How Nature Affects Your Mental Health
How Nature Affects Your Mental Health
If the Covid-19 Pandemic has taught us anything, we should not take the little things for granted. Our natural world is more than just something to admire. Studies continue to show how vital embracing our natural heritage is for our peace of mind. The best part? It’s free! Cities worldwide are incorporating green spaces to reduce the warmer temperatures, build local communities, and make you feel at ease. Believe us; your mind will thank you!
The Benefits of Natural Surroundings:
It’s no secret the value of being outdoors. In essence, we are connecting with literally millions of years of history. For some time, natural spaces, both green and blue, have been linked with great value for people and the planet. For example, studies show that natural areas improve overall ecosystem health by boosting a city’s resilience to extreme weather and storing carbon. Additionally, research highlights that green and blue spaces can also bring communities together.
We see positive effects on our well-being, ecosystem, and even social dynamics (higher empathy & cooperation). For example, the global pandemic has shown the increasing importance of access to natural spaces, yet many nations differed in how much citizens could participate. When we needed to feel a sense of connection more than ever, taking measures to maintain our mental health was just as critical as the pandemic itself.
The Impact of Nature on Mental Health
When we step outside of our homes, we see how many systems are going on around us—the wind blowing, the sun or clouds overhead, and the noises of birds flapping in unison. Unfortunately, with our technology-driven world, people are more consumed than ever by their screens instead of what’s outside. This constant anticipation of our day to come or what has happened before robs us of the precious, present moment. The practice, known as rumination, keeps us locked in perpetual worry and stimulation, making it harder to feel at ease.
The antidote, known as mindfulness, balances this out. What’s more, it wakes us up to the natural systems around us, which further brings us joy and relaxation. Scientists have done many studies on how nature leads to greater cognition and restoration in the last few years. In a recent EMA Talks episode, board member Eric Cristian Olsen spoke with Dr. Peter James (assistant professor at Harvard University) on the topic. We learn that even just walking 20 minutes a day can do wonders for your mental, physical health. Around the world, where some countries were not as lenient on letting citizens leave their homes, it was reported they experienced higher bouts of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Despite this, researchers have found that images of nature, whether video or still image, can combat this. It was found that exposure to nature, in person or over the video, can lead to greater attention, positivity, and ability to reflect. In a time when the world needs more healing, managing our mental and emotional well-being is as simple as stepping outside the home for a couple of minutes.
The Threat to A Natural Remedy
As we have seen with a global health pandemic, nothing can be left to chance. While we are now putting behind, what we hope to be the worst moments of COVID-19, we have still been fighting another major crisis: climate change. Our EMA Talks featuring Olsen and Dr. Peter James discuss that people born in green spaces (parks, riverbeds, lakes) had lower clinical psychological outcomes than people who weren’t. Access to these spaces, including urban walks, is vital in responding to our stressors. Unfortunately, our warming planet is making these spaces harder to come by. As sea levels rise and droughts last longer and more intensely, we find ourselves being left with less room to enjoy our human right to fresh air and water. Nature-Deficit Disorder, a phenomenon in which society spends less time outdoors and endures behavioral problems, is occurring at an alarming rate for today’s youth. Suppose dwindling access to these areas is maintained, and younger generations lose sight of the importance of natural spaces. In that case, a mixture of social and emotional problems may exist as a result.
The importance of Being Nurtured by Nature
All people should have access to and the ability to enjoy nature. We have much to be proud of for our society, with social change and technological innovations being front-and-center more than ever before. What doesn’t change is our relationship to the planet. As caretakers tend to their home, we must also tend to our collective home. Our world gives us everything we need to survive, even tranquility for our mental well-being. This is one of the pivotal conversations EMA strives to hold, highlighted during our annual Impact Summit. Our moral obligation is to be responsible stewards of the environment today, tomorrow, and in the years to come. There are many ways for us to do so. Please do it for yourself, your mind, and everyone else!
Written by Demitri Fierro, ESG Contributor (MBA Candidate in Sustainable Management)