Have you ever gotten bad news, had a heated argument with a loved one, or had a bad day at work and taken a walk in nature to instantly feel better?
No matter how advanced we get in our modern world with technology, nature will always have an invaluable effect on us. After all, we human beings are one with nature; we come from the earth and return back to it.
For me, immersing myself in nature, even if only for a few minutes, seems to help my mind reset. Which makes sense since nature has a way of healing, soothing, and restoring us. It nurtures us in ways that we can just scratch the surface of.
How Can Spending Time in Nature Nurture Your Soul?
Boosts Your Mood
Spending time in nature is extremely beneficial for your physical health, but also your mental health. Multiple studies have shown a correlation between improved mental health and walks in nature. In fact, according to one study in Finland, spending just 15 minutes sitting in nature helped people feel psychologically restored.
Heals You Physically
Human beings are a part of nature. Thus, when we immerse ourselves in nature, we can actually heal ourselves. Various elements of nature, like trees, plants, and water, can help reduce physical pain and discomfort.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Exposure to nature can reduce unpleasant feelings of anger, fear, and stress.
Being in nature, or even just looking at pictures of nature, can help you feel better emotionally and reduce your blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Numerous research in hospitals, offices, and schools shows that just placing a simple plant in a room indoors can have a tremendous positive effect on stress and anxiety.
So the next time you feel stressed at work, take a quick walk outside and notice how much better you feel!
Strengthens Your Spirit
When someone goes out into nature, we are energized not just physically or mentally, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Just being in nature helps us recalibrate to our internal peace, our inner guidance, and quiet the noise to the world to hear our soul’s voice.
Gives You a New Perspective
Because nature has the beautiful effect of calming our anxious, ever-thinking minds, when we go outside, we are able to see things more clearly. Suddenly difficulties that seemed momentous don’t seem so relevant anymore. Simple solutions appear for problems that once seemed unsolvable. Ego battles, arguments, and misunderstandings suddenly appear to be slight misunderstandings that can easily be forgiven.
We all know that fresh air is good for us; however, sometimes we overlook just how good it can be for us. Nature has immense healing benefits for not only our physical but our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. When you find yourself lost in the hustle-bustle of the 21st century world, running against time, feeling stressed and irritated, and drowning in a thousand problems, try going outside in nature. Whether you go for a 10-minute walk around your neighborhood or take a vacation to a cottage in the woods for the weekend, you will return much more refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated, ready to tackle the challenges of modern-day life again.
