How Getting Out In Nature Can Help Your Mental Health

We all know that getting out and about in nature improves our physical health whether it’s fitness or getting rid of a cold but, nature can also help our mental health. When outdoors, our minds are given a break through the escape of mundane tasks, boredom and ruminating in our thoughts. Being in nature is also known to decrease anxiety levels, lessen stress and lower symptoms of depression, as these are the most common struggles that people deal, with it is important to spread awareness of the impact that nature can have on us.

Getting a bit of fresh air daily can also help us to sleep better due to natural light regulating our sleep/wake cycles, meaning you sleep deeper and wake up better ready for the day. In addition to this, after spending time in nature we are able to concentrate and focus more during the day and our creativity is boosted, as well as our problem solving. Day to day tasks, work or study can become a lot easier if we take some time to connect with nature. Where possible, pop out on your lunch break whether it’s for a walk or to sit on a bench and watch the world go by, to just break up your day and give you that boost that some days are very much needed. Depending on what your days look like, going out for a walk in the evening is always a good idea to decompress for the day and enable you to fully switch off when you get home, this is ideal in the spring/summer months.

Nature doesn’t have to just be fields, parks or woods. Nature is any outdoor space you have available to you, make the most of what is around you, pay attention to the trees and birds in urban areas, get yourself some houseplants to bring nature into your home, even watching nature documentaries have been shown to have positive effects on mental health, this can be handy on the days when it feels a bit too much to leave the house. If you are struggling to get out of the house, there are some ways which you can gradually build up to getting out. Start as small as you need to, whether that’s just getting dressed and putting your shoes on and not going out, that is progress in itself. Repeat steps as many time as you need until you feel ready to take it further. The next time you could get dressed and open the door, even if you don’t go out. Then eventually work up to taking a few steps, even going and sitting in the car. It is always best to take it slow, don’t pressure yourself and rush as you could overwhelm yourself and you will likely want to go out even less. You will have good days and bad days, so celebrate the good and don’t dwell on the bad, slow progress is still progress.

Utilising grounding techniques when outside can massively help with stabilisation, if you feel your anxiety is heighted or you are feeling disconnected. Some ideas that you can try are:

·       Conscious breathing- Lie down or sit comfortably outdoors, breathe deeply and pay attention to the relaxation in your body, the feelings of tension in your body and mind leaving and going into the ground.

·       Moving- Swaying back and forth, letting gravity guide you or shaking your limbs until it is effortless is a great technique to use to alleviate tension and stabilise emotions.

·       Noticing- Make yourself comfortable, ideally on the ground. Immerse yourself in your surroundings, take in the details of the world around you. Engage your senses and take notice of them. This will help you to relax and connect your mind and body.

·       Mindful walking- Head out for a walk, take slow steps and align your steps with your breathing. Take small pauses to observe your surroundings and engage your, this is even more effective in rainy weather as there are more sensations for you to take in.

There are a wide variety of other grounding techniques, have a look and see which suit you and give them a try.

Enjoy your time in nature!