Connect with Nature to Improve Your Mental Health

The Mental Health Foundation conducted one of the largest studies and uncovered that 70% of UK adults agreed that being close to nature improves their mood. How we connect with nature differs from person to person. Some may choose to simply observe their surroundings, while others may wish to embrace it through touch and smell.

Does the quality of nature influence our wellbeing? How can we ensure ‘connectedness’ to nature – and what does this even mean?

How can nature benefit my mental health?

Spending time in nature has a variety of benefits for both the body and mind. It can help reduce stress, improve your mood, boost attention span and support our overall wellbeing. The levels in which they provide a positive boost differs from person to person, as we all have preferences in how we connect with nature.

In some cases, finding time to get out in nature can be challenging. This is often why meditative videos and audio use real recordings of nature – such as rain drops, streams, wind and other nature-based sounds.

Nature has also been shown to help alleviate common mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It can even help those who may experience climate change anxiety. These individuals may connect with nature more directly through conservation and volunteering work.

What do we mean by ‘nature’?

Nature refers to the natural forms we see around us such as grass, trees, lakes, streams and the like. Formations and structures can be natural or landscaped by architects to promote a particular feeling such as openness, or to complement surrounding structures. Nature can also refer to things like the weather, geological events, forms of life and humanity.

Connecting with nature in a meaningful way

Just stepping into your local park or woods may be enough to help alleviate feelings of stress, but for some people, they may prefer a more direct approach such as swimming in natural bodies of water, walking barefoot or laying on a patch of grass.

Contrastingly, some may prefer to simulate nature indoors by listening to nature soundbites, consuming nature-based TV shows whilst doing another activity such as yoga or meditation. It might involve a bit of trial and error, but finding your way of connecting with nature can help you reap its benefits to support your wellbeing.

Tips for connecting with nature to improve your mental health

1. Find nature where you are

Have you been curious about a local park in the area, but have never visited? Now is a great time to do so. You may get lucky and find unique wildlife or find it’s a new tranquil spot to soak in the sunlight and bathe in the nature around you.

Nature is all around us – even in bustling cities. It’s worth carving out a little time in your day to go further afield to find these small pockets of tranquillity.

2. Connect with nature using all your senses

If you’ve found a nice patch of nature to enjoy, it can help to engage as many of your sense as you can to really ground yourself. The smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of a running stream and the sight of wildlife are wonderful ways to boost your mental wellbeing and appreciate nature in all its glory.

3. Get out into nature

While it can be hard to carve out time in our busy schedules to get out in nature, it’s super important for our wellbeing. Even if it’s just a small part of your day – be sure to go to your local nature spot. You may find it beneficial to go with family, a friend or colleague for accountability.

4. Bring nature to you

Depending on where you live or work, it can be hard to access good spots of nature where you feel a sense of peace. That’s why cultivating nature indoors in some shape or form can be beneficial. Consider houseplants (especially non-toxic ones if you’re a pet owner) and placing them in prominent spots in your space to admire and look after. Alternatively, if planting isn’t for you, you can simulate nature by playing nature audio or watching a TV show based on nature.

5. Exercise in nature

If you’re able to, do your workout outside! Whether that’s a short walk through a park or a long run or cycling route – it can be incredibly calming to absorb the various nature sports. You can even combine calming nature sounds as you exercise outside too by playing it through your headphones.

6. Combine nature with creativity

Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly creative – it can help to think outside the box to increase your connectedness with nature. You could try drawing what you see or simply taking a picture of a beautiful nature spot on your smartphone. The idea is to notice the beauty around you to increase your emotional connectedness with nature to provide a calming effect on the mind.

7. Protect nature

Nature needs protecting – it’s our source of life after all. Plus, taking care or something is a great way to feel good about oneself. Even if you don’t have green fingers for planting – even something like recycling, litter picking or helping your local conversation community is a fantastic way to increase your connectedness with nature and reduce climate anxiety.

How can you develop your connection with nature?

Developing a connection with nature is unique to everyone. That’s why it’s important to experiment with direct and indirect approaches to nature to discover what works best for you. You could try:

• Lying in a patch of grass

• Walking barefoot in nature

• Swimming in (safe!) open bodies of water

• Taking photos of nature and wildlife

• Birdwatching

• Writing, drawing and painting

The overall aim is to notice the beauty of nature to give you inner peace and calm the effects of any negative emotions you may be feeling. You may find that your approach to connecting with nature changes with every passing day – simply lean into it and approach your connectedness with nature in a way that is calming to you.

Wisdom App and EAP

As part of our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), we offer the Wisdom app – a platform that allows you to track all things wellbeing, such as your water intake, steps, sleep and activity.

If getting out in nature more has been one of your goals to support your wellbeing, then Wisdom can help. Not only does it help you track your wellbeing, but it also provides a huge bank of content, such as guided meditation, nature sounds, insightful mental health articles and much more. It’s a great way to supplement your efforts to get out in nature and improve your mental health overall.

Conclusion

Getting out in nature is paramount and statistically proven to help with our mental health. Even simulating nature in small ways can make a difference to your overall mood. It’s all about finding your way to connect with nature to improve your mental health – so don’t be afraid to go a little further afield, start a new indoor planting project or simply take the time to appreciate nature in any way you can. While it won’t be a cure all – it can highly supplement efforts to improve your mental health, particularly in trying times.

If you have an EAP with us, we’re available 24/7, 365 days a year to support you with any problems you may be having. Alternatively, speak to one of our friendly advisors to discover how we can support your people and improve their wellbeing.