Healing nature
I know that when I go for a walk in nature it lifts my mood. I find that my intention when I set out makes a difference. I can’t think of it as a fitness walk where I have to keep up a pace or cover a certain distance. I need to frame it as a mental health walk. This allows me to slow down and pay attention to the sights and sounds around me. My breathing slows and I feel calmer.
According to a report from the Mental Health Foundation many of us instinctively turned to nature spaces to help us cope with the pandemic. We chose to use the limited amount of time we could be outside to be in nature.
A slow walk is mindful. We notice – flowers, birds, trees. If we’re interested we can learn (I use an app to identify birdsong). This noticing promotes a feeling of being connected. Feeling connected to a place is itself good for mental health. I regularly walk in the same place and so witness it when the new buds are on the trees, when there’s snow on the ground, when the baby ducklings are on the pond. I see the changing of the seasons and it makes me feel part of it.
If it is difficult to get outside into nature there are other ways. Watching a nature documentary can lift mood.* Having potted plants around the home. Perhaps growing some herbs or vegetables in a window box. It all counts.
There is an increasing body of evidence that connecting with nature helps with mild anxiety and depression. If it’s not part of your regular well-being routine, why not give it a try.
* a peaceful nature documentary, not one about shark attacks!
Nature: How connecting with nature benefits our mental health | Mental Health Foundation
Nature and mental health | Tips for everyday living | Mind
Nature and Mental Health: The Science Behind Why the Outdoors Heals (2026) | Simply Psychology