Back in 2005, Richard Louv published Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, a book that showed that people, especially children, need to get out into nature more often. Louv argued that many of the mental and physical problems we experience, including ADD and stress-related illness, are the result of what he dubbed “nature deficit disorder.”
His book was a hit, and since that time, researchers have further confirmed that spending time in nature is highly beneficial for your health. There have now been more than 1,000 scholarly studies confirming the importance of nature to human wellness, and Louv himself says, “Nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive functioning.”
Relax and rejuvenate
Most importantly, nature is an antidote to the biggest health risk we face—stress. Stress has been linked to most of the major diseases we face in the industrialized world: heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression and more.
While there are many methods that help reduce stress, such as exercise and meditation, experiencing nature may be one of the most effective.
While there are many methods that help reduce stress, such as exercise and meditation, experiencing nature may be one of the most effective. In Japan, people have created a trend called “forest bathing,” where people go and soak in the energy of the trees. Researchers have confirmed that this practice boosts the immune system, allowing people to fight off infections and tumours more efficiently.
If you have ever taken a walk in a forest or spent a day on the beach, you probably have already felt how nature can help you unwind and relax. But don’t wait for your next vacation to experience this effect. Instead, try to make it a regular part of your routine.
A study published in the journal Scientific Reports indicates that people need to experience at least two hours per week in nature to reap its benefits. Fortunately, you don’t need to drive outside of the city to find nature; a walk in a local park or time spent tending your garden is fine. In fact, one study showed that even images of nature in your office or home can begin to reduce stress levels.
Personally, I try to take time every day to walk in nature. Studies have also shown that walking provides great health benefits, too, especially for the brain, so if you walk in nature, you can get a double benefit!
Boost your brainpower
Your most important organ, your brain, also benefits from exposure to nature. Of course, anything that is good for your body’s health is also good for the brain, but nature’s benefits for the brain go beyond that. Nature also helps people focus better, which many people struggle with in our fast-paced society.
Psychologists Rachel and Steven Kaplan have been studying how nature improves people’s mental concentration since the 1980s, which they documented in their book The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. The Kaplans developed an idea they call “attention restoration theory” to explain why nature is so important for our ability to focus.
According to their theory, nature provides the brain with a much-needed break from the constant stress-inducing informational bombardment of modern life, which they call “directed attention.” In contrast, nature offers opportunities for casual, stress-free focus, which the Kaplans refer to as “soft fascination.”
Nature provides the opportunity to observe relaxing and inspiring scenery that engages all the senses, but without all the stress. Nature allows the opportunity to focus inward, since nature’s “stimuli not only requires little effort but also leaves mental space for reflection.” Also, nature has been found to improve cognitive function, social cohesion and mood.
Connect to your true nature
I have always encouraged people to commune with nature as part of their regular spiritual practice, whatever that happens to be. Whether you follow a traditional religious tradition or have a more casual, personalized sense of spirituality, time in nature can expand and deepen your experience.
It helps you step away from the trivial concerns of daily life to see a broader view of the world. In nature, you are reminded that you are part of an amazing, grand universe and that your life is a miracle that must be cherished and used well. Nature can also be a humbling experience, reminding you that your egoic concerns are small and insignificant when seen from a wider view. There is something truly transcendent about a beautiful natural scene. Finding a place to meditate in a natural environment is especially transformative.
I encourage people to spend time in nature to help cultivate an “earth citizen” mindset. These days, humanity is facing many difficult problems that we must solve together, such as climate change and pollution.
Nature teaches us about the interconnectedness of all living things, and human beings are not excluded from that. We have only one planet that sustains us all, so we must learn to care for her together, which is the true meaning of being an “earth citizen.” Researchers have confirmed that time in nature helps improve community cohesion.
You are nature
Remember that you are always part of nature. We often speak of nature as though it is something separate from humanity, but that is only an illusion of the mind. Your heart beats and your neurons connect all because of the miraculous rhythms of nature.
You are dependent on the Earth to provide the food you eat and the air you breathe, just like any other creature living on the planet. Spending time in nature feels good because it allows your mind to come back to who you already are.
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image 1 Ton Müller from Pixabay 2 image by jplenio from Pixabay 3 image by Eddie K from Pixabay
