How do I improve my mental health?

Do you feel happier and healthier outside in nature? It could simply be in a park but equally out in the countryside. It doesn’t need to be a sunny day to work.

It is my belief Mother Nature gives off a wonderful energy which we naturally absorb when we out in Nature. I find it can smooth my emotions and help me to feel calmer, gives me ideas and motivate me to put them into action.

Mother Nature is far wiser than we give her credit for.

Each of us are different with a whole range of needs. Yet Mother Nature knows exactly what we need and gives it to us unstintingly. She is not called ‘Mother’ Nature for nothing. She nurtures all who call upon her.

But is there any science behind this healing process? Researcher Craig Andersen has done research monitoring a number of people’s activities and their time spent in nature, along with their mental well-being. He discovered being in nature instilled a sense of being in the presence of something greater than themselves which fills you up with wonder and awe. He felt it was the awe which brought greater mental well-being and the sense of calm. You can read Craig’s paper on his research here.

I decided to test out Craig’s theory for myself. We had a very rainy day in May with no sunshine. I had spent my day at my desk doing online and telephone sessions with clients plus some blog writing. Come the end of the working day I felt exhausted and my back was complaining. The rain had eased so I decided to go for a walk. I needed to regain my sense of freedom and to move my body to ease its complaints. I am lucky to live in a rural area. So, I walked down our lane to the main road (joke - there is a car about once every half an hour!). As I reached the road the clouds cleared and a watery sunshine came out.

I was totally in awe at how Mother Nature responded.

The water dripping from the trees eased and then stopped. The birds began to sing. The cuckoo began to call out and a woodpecker responded. I walked down our valley towards the pond. There is an ancient wood of mixed types of trees to my left. The sun shone through the leaves in misty white shafts of light. It was a breath-taking beautiful sight. When I reached the pond, the sun had created a mist rising from the water. It felt like I had jumped into a movie set it was all so exquisite. I definitely had a sense of awe.

When I returned home to cook dinner, my husband was surprised but delighted I was so cheerful after such a dreadful day.

I agree with Craig that;

experiencing nature and feeling awe transformed both my mood and my body.

Since the lockdown experience, Forest Schools have become popular. These schools enable children to engage with nature. Something they are often unable to do at school with increased security and fenced tarmac playgrounds imposed on schools to discharge their responsibility to keep children safe. But at what cost to children’s’ well-being. Parents are trying to counter the impact by enrolling their children in a forest school so they can get up close with nature and absorb that wonderful energy.

Do you have children or grandchildren, it is worth investigating your local forest school.