With all the demands of our modern lives, it can be difficult to find time for ourselves and engage in activities that promote our mental wellbeing and offer us a moment of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. Luckily, one of the simplest ways to improve our mental health is always available to us, which is engaging with nature. The benefits of spending time outside are numerous and include socialization, mindfulness, empathy, curiosity, and increasing physical activity. We see benefits on our cognition, mood, well being, and mental health when we spend time outdoors. There is a term called Eco Therapy that refers to a broad range of nature-based activities intended to improve mental health. We know from research that even low-intensity physical exercises such as walking have been shown to positively impact symptoms of anxiety and depression. Another type of low intensity nature-based activity is called “Forest Bathing” which has also been shown to have positive effects on mood. Even just having indoor plants or a window has been shown to positively impact our mood. 

There may be many reasons why walking in nature improves our mood. One idea is called “optic flow” which describes the process of our eyes moving back and forth while we walk that helps us calm down the amygdala in our brain and loosen us from a flight or fight response. Imagine someone deep in thought who is pacing back and forth. Another is a concept called “grounding” which involves the coordination of our breathing and our movements to help us reconnect to our bodies and leave the anxious thoughts. Grounding has even been shown to improve aspects of health like inflammation and pain. 

Now that the summer is here, people feel more interested in getting outdoors and experiencing the benefits that nature has to offer. Something as simple as taking a brief walk and noticing what you see can be hugely beneficial to our mental health and doesn’t require a lot of time or resources. So, lace up your shoes, step outside, and embark on a journey of discovery and renewal through the simple pleasure of a nature walk.