How nature can have a positive effect on your mental health
Nature: [noun] 'ne?t??’
The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations.
Many people find that being outdoors and immersed in nature is both a relaxing and renewing experience. Not only can it benefit your physical wellbeing, it can also have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing.
It can:
Improve your mood and reduce stress
Being in nature can trigger a process called ‘grounding’ that can help you feel much more balanced and centred with the realignment of your senses, and therefore reducing any anxiety or negative emotion in your body. Also, let’s be honest, you’re much more likely to see a dog when you’re in the park or on the beach, which is a whole other level of happiness in itself. Getting amongst nature is extremely important for our wellbeing, and many cultures around the world practice ‘forest bathing’, from the Japanese Shinrin-Yoku; in Scandinavia, they have Friluftsliv, meaning ‘open-air life’.
Improve your physical health
It’s a no brainer that being in the outdoors can massively benefit your physical wellbeing, because you’re most likely doing some sort of light exercise. But it’s easy to forget that your physical health has a huge knock-on-effect on your mental health. Exercising and being outdoors increases your endorphin levels – those feel good hormones we all love to get a boost of. A brisk walk to uni or the supermarket can increase your energy levels, positive mood, and mental alertness. Not only that, participation in physical activity can also improve your memory, help you sleep better, and increase your self-esteem, helping you to form routines and lead a healthier lifestyle.
Have a positive impact on your mental health through gardening
Did you know that research shows that gardening can improve your mental health? Not only does it help you to gain confidence, it gets you outdoors, and teaches you self-care through caring for and nurturing something else. Gardening can give you a sense of achievement, allowing you to express your creativity, and to keep learning more and more about the things you’re tending to and planting. Gardening can also:
Fancy putting it to the test? Come along to The Green Team’s ‘Gardening 101: Gardening for Wellbeing’ session from 16:00-17:00 on #WMHD, Wednesday 10 October to bring a little greenery and mindfulness into your week. Or you can take advantage of many of the green spaces we have here on campus, just visit our website for more details.