The Healing Power of Nature

Mother Nature is spectacular with her greenery, flowers, trees, mountains, and more. Most people can appreciate the beauty of nature, but did you know that being in natural can also enhance your mental and physical health? The research paints a clear picture about the healing power of nature.

Let’s start with the brain. Many studies have shown that being in or around green space helps with cognitive development in children and is also correlated with higher attentional functioning and cognitive performance in adults.

According to a 2021 review, in addition to brain function, studies confirm that there is an association between nature exposure and improved blood pressure, physical functioning, stress reduction, and sleep. Research is also clear that spending time in nature helps enhance emotional wellbeing and mental health.

In addition, being physically active outdoors will give you even more health benefits. In the scientific literature, this is known as green exercise, and it has been shown to enhance the mental and physical benefits of exercise compared to being active indoors. A 2022 review of 19 different studies showed that green exercisers had less anxiety, tension, anger, and depression.

What’s more, even if you can’t actually get out and spend time in nature, research shows that you can get similar results with virtual nature exposure by viewing nature on your computer, TV, or looking at nature photos.

As Henry Thoreau wrote in Walden, “we can never have enough nature.” As it turns out, when it comes to mental and physical health he was right. Try to get out and enjoy nature as much as possible. And if you can, be physically active outdoors as much as possible.