The Mental Health Benefits of Being in Nature
Mental health awareness is so vital that individuals and companies alike have taken more significant measures to understand the humans around them. People are becoming more aware of their own mental health and how they can take care of themselves to avoid burnout. While pharmaceutical options and therapy help many, they are still unaffordable for others. Luckily, you can experience the healing properties of nature for free.
Improved Mood
Spending time outside can improve everything about your mood. While it may not be able to cure your depression or anxiety, it can still improve your state of find and help you see the bright side of any situation. Here are some ways you might see your mood change once you spend some time in nature.
Calmness in Nature: Have you ever felt calmer when surrounded by plants and fresh air? Simply being in nature can help the mind feel peace and happiness and relieve you of all your negative emotions. You might choose to meditate outdoors in the early morning to start your day off right — with a clear mind and an increased sense of calm.
New Perspective: Nature can change your perspective on several things. People often recommend walking when you're stuck on a project or blocked creatively. Being in nature gets your mind off worrisome things and reminds you of the larger picture. You might come back with a problem solved or a renewed drive to tackle a project you've been putting off.
Physical Changes
Being outside might also encourage physical changes. Whether you're using your outdoor time for exercise or merely to reduce the stress on your body, you're benefitting your physical health as much as your mental health.
Reduced Stress: By spending time outdoors, you'll feel your stress melt away. About 80% of Americans are stressed about their jobs. Being wrapped in nature's beauty can help you forget your day-to-day worries and encourage you to think of the natural world instead. Nature brings moments of mindfulness easily and you may find you're more present when you're outdoors. When you reduce your stress, you have a greater chance of your physical health improving, too.
Activity Outdoors: When you feel good physically, it often translates to your mental well-being.
Exercising in nature daily also gives you the Vitamin D you need, which can help you feel healthier and happier. Compared to indoor exercises, the possibilities are limitless. You can do anything from go for a jog to play sports with your loved ones.
Further Learning
Being in nature can also encourage you to continue learning, even if you've been out of school for years. You'll observe plants and animals you've likely never seen before, and you may also learn more about yourself and how you can best heal from things bothering you.
Natural Healing: One of the most interesting ways to heal yourself is to get back to a holistic way of living. By eating well and absorbing as much nature as possible, you might find your healing accelerating in certain circumstances. While you shouldn't rule out medical intervention, being outside in and fully appreciating nature can help you reconnect to your roots away from electronic devices and social media that seem to worsen mental states from time to time.
Outside Wonders: After spending a bit of time outside, you may want to get to know your backyard and the creatures and plants local to your area or state. The national park system receives millions of visits each year, with the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia receiving almost 16 million visits annually. It proves people are curious about nature and all its mysteries — you may just need the extra push to discover it yourself.
Nature Is a Healing Force
Spending time in nature should be a leisurely activity you do to learn more about yourself and improve your mental health. Overall, your physical and emotional health may improve when you find yourself outdoors more often. It may not happen all at once, but as you spend more time outside, you'll feel yourself heal, change and grow from the inside out. It's what you deserve.
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Mia Barnes is a health and wellness writer and the Editor In Chief at Body+Mind. She especially enjoys writing about mental health, physical well-being, mindfulness, and healthy living. When she's not writing, you can find Mia reading romance novels, jogging, and trying new recipes!
When times are tough we look around for inspiration or success stories about people who have been in our position and succeeded. These stories are all around us but we don’t pay attention to them until we need them.
When I needed inspiration, I came across Tick Tick...Boom! on Netflix and it has become a bit of an obsession for me. It’s an autobiographical musical about a man who kept going even though the odds were against him. I needed to hear his story and now I am going to tell you why it is a good source of inspiration.