Is Nature Good For Our Mental Health? The Science and Poetry of it.

What do you think? Let's find out -

When we say “Mental Health”, what does it mean? 

Mental health is a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being.  

Good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness; it includes the ability to manage life’s stresses, work productively, and maintain relationships, echoing our overall health and quality of life.

"Man is not disturbed by things, but by the view he takes of them." – Epictetus, Greek Stoic philosopher.

So, how is Nature good for our Mental Health? 

Let's try and see:

Take a moment (just a moment) to shift focus to Nature -

go outside, stand on the balcony, look out the window, or spend time outdoors.

Either way, look, pay attention, sort through the man-made noise, and hear nature.

This is when we disassociate with our thoughts, and this is when we notice - the poetry: 

Nature is alive and brimming. The mynahs have been chatty, we only hear now. Some birds have been sweet-talking. The Oriental Magpie Robin’s song fades into the background. The gooseberry leaves are ripe in their mature green, only months ago you saw them birth in their fresh spring, youthful energy reverberating, and the dove sings an afternoon lullaby. 

Breathe. Let it be. Be, as in align with nature being. Nature flows, so if you feel a sense of flow, that's it. Be there. Be in it. That's enough. Your breath is effortlessly continual like how the sea is, and or the flow that makes a river. Feel your soul sit in the company of wise mountains, feel their gigantic selves in humble quietness, communing with the tiny you. 

The Rufous Treepie screeches in the only way it knows. The Chestnut Tailed Starlings fight with the common Brown Mynahs when you don't look, and the Oriental Magpie Robins have been chasing each other, symbolic, Ying Yang, like a sign from the universe, the squirrel is everywhere, a rare Spotted Pond Turtle ends up in the yard with purpose, carrying wisdom on its back. Like when you witness a wild elephant herd, so close, so gentle, and the Barasingha's antlered symphony quite a few times such that you reminisce doe-eyed encounters, and the closest you've been to an unbothered One Horned Rhinoceros, what were the odds?

Now the Crimson Sunbird sings to you a late, late summer adieu, or a late February sojourn by the Purple Sunbird in dazzling high, a shared frequency like a radio signal while most sleep, your consciousness travels the curve of this planet in waves of feeling, and you notice the Cinerous Tit, or how an Asian Openbill Stork lands atop the tallest tree, a rare glimpse of the Greater Flameback Woodpecker, while the Common Kingsfishers land on a moringa branch, twin pair of blue closest to you, like a flash of familiar yellow too, and the Orioles know, whilst Sparrows that nest all year long awaken spring with their singing -

and for a moment there you belong, in spaces where the seeker meets the receiver, a perspective in the pause, answers found. 

How is YOUR part of the Earth coloured? 

Every month I took a moment to reflect on how nature is coloured in my part of the Earth, opening up a conversation - asking others too to share the biodiversity from theirs, as every varied inch makes the planet, ever-evolving in its minuteness of being.

As I brought my focus back to Nature and dwelled in shared experiences inspired by the natural world, the following happened (viz a viz mental health) -

• I was reminded constantly that I am just a part of a greater whole, a whole that is brimming, and only because of whose being, my existence is possible, while I am but a visitor here, my brief time on Earth, a journey.

• And what do we do when we travel? We seek out the best that a place has to offer. This changed my perspective, as I opened my eyes to everything that the Earth offered in its effortless being - in its sights and sounds, the inspiring beauty and wisdom in every curve - answers to questions asked, meeting my insatiable seeking. There is much to learn from how the seasons change, and how the wild thrives in perfect alignment, the lessons plants, trees, and flowers teach, to have our soul reflected in birdsongs and the humming of the sea, and greater intelligence be echoed in mountains, carried by a river in all its phases, and the moon too, in communion with Nature is all that we seek and the more we didn't know could be.

• More importantly, it made me aware of myself and the world around me - the awareness of my being - my choices, and my actions, and the ripple effect of it. Nature would bring my focus back to the present - only the now mattered in Nature, and nature lived for it, whole. In this wholeness was the flow we felt in Nature, the same flow we sought after. Whilst, this flow was just a mindful choice away, for in making conscious choices, if I am kinder to myself, I am likely to be kinder to the planet, for when I am kinder to the planet, I am only kinder to myself.

• There is, thus, a strange shared connection, felt in mindful rendezvous with Nature. Because I am part of the complex web of life on Earth, and in disconnection is isolation - a shared symphony, like my effortless breathing echoing the waves of the sea and the planet rotating and revolving like my body's engineered functioning beyond the limitations of my mind, like how migrating birds do not need a compass and the Turtle makes long strides in its steadiness, an intelligence that makes us all, reflected on the moment of perfect symmetry that makes even this Earth reality and our existence that comes eons after.

  
  

• Thus, aligning with Nature has been a moment of pause, slowing down to reconnect, flowing with my breath, and listening to myself, being aware of my thoughts, my body, my mind, as the machine-induced hyperactive world fades, the ego-fueled needs are surface level, and in my truth, I am free. And this is where I find my voice, the one that speaks to me infinitely, leading me home, telling me what I truly want, showing me the way, a guiding light, receiving, and the world changes. 

"Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." – Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist.

"For truly we are all angels temporarily hiding as humans." – Brian Weiss, American psychiatrist and past-life regression therapist.

There is a Science Behind Nature and Mental Health -

Nature's role in mental health has been supported by a body of research in recent times - amplifying that this is no romanticized notion but a science-backed reality with practical implications: 

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that people living in greener areas reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. 

Another study by the American Psychological Association (APA) suggested that exposure to nature can lead to a decrease in the activity of the brain's subgenual prefrontal cortex, an area associated with ruminating on negative thoughts—a key component of depression.

The Natural England Study (2016) revealed that a mere two hours per week in nature significantly boosted people's well-being. More recently, a 2021 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology reinforced these findings, showing a strong correlation between time spent in nature and reductions in symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

How Nature Improves Mental Health -

1. Combating STRESS, the greatest enemy of Mental Well-Being -

Spending time in nature is not only an immediate stress relief but also helps combat chronic stress, long term. The sustained feeling of stress over an extended period is linked to serious health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, weakened immune function, and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that participants who spent 20-30 minutes in nature several times a week experienced sustained reductions in cortisol. Nature also improves the balance of the autonomic nervous system by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation. Time in natural environments also reduces rumination—a repetitive focus on negative thoughts, according to a 2015 Stanford study. Long-term exposure to natural settings even strengthens immune function by increasing levels of natural killer (NK) cells, crucial for combating illness.

2. Shifting Focus to Nature is HAPPINESS -

Shifting focus to nature has been scientifically linked to increased happiness, largely due to its positive effects on brain chemistry. Natural light, fresh air, and exposure to green environments stimulate the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter commonly known as the "happiness hormone," as per a study published in “Environmental Health Perspectives”. The effect of nature on serotonin levels is particularly important because it offers a natural, non-invasive way to enhance emotional well-being.

3. Nature puts us in a Problem-Solving Mode and inspires Creative Expression -

Being in Nature, as we are in a relaxed state, we are more likely to have Eureka moments of inspiration, as ideas hit us, we are in the receiving mode when not being blocked by negative thinking, and we mostly find what we seek answers, signs, and solutions. Often, this inspires creative expression which is a “state of flow” feeling, and we find clarity and relief.

Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that nature boosts cognitive function, including working memory and attention. This improvement is linked to reduced mental fatigue, better focus, and productivity.

4. Being Outdoors is the opposite of being sedentary, and hence great for the mind and overall health -

Nature offers opportunities for physical movement—whether it’s walking, or hiking—and physical activity stimulates the production of endorphins - "feel-good" hormones. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that individuals who engaged in outdoor physical activities had 43% fewer days of poor mental health compared to those who were inactive. Additionally, it lowers levels of cortisol, and enhances cognitive function over time, as per research from Mental Health and Physical Activity.

How Can We Reconnect with Nature Today, easily and effortlessly?

1. Taking Nature Walks -

I mention this in the musings on how Nature is good for the Heart too - and walking regularly and better if outdoors, is something we must do, since our lifestyles have become sedentary. Research published in Scientific Reports suggests that even a brief 10-minute walk can result in noticeable reductions in anxiety and increased feelings of calm. It is the easiest thing we can do, even in urban areas, short walks in parks, community gardens, or along tree-lined streets can make a difference.

Here is a fun activity for deeper healing to take our Inner Child on a Nature Walk:

"It is inevitable that the older we get, the more we gain in life experience, and therefore the more judgments we make based on those experiences. Viewing the world through innocent eyes creates a blank canvas diminishing expectation, which in turn lowers stress and anxiety."

1. Co-Living with Nature -

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that indoor plants reduce physiological and psychological stress by suppressing sympathetic nervous system activity. If we can incorporate indoor plants and bring nature indoors, it purifies the air too, the green life we co-live with makes us happier, and caring for plants can be a positive focus.

1. “Earthing” to being an earthling -

Grounding or “Earthing” is a simple practice that involves direct physical contact with the earth’s surface - like walking barefoot on grass or sand, for instance. Studies suggest that grounding can improve mood, reduce inflammation, and regulate sleep.

Try this nature mindfulness practice for chakra healing:

"Take off your shoes and sink your naked feet into the warm green grass, anchoring yourself to the present moment. Close your eyes and breathe in the scarlet essence, bask in the fire that rises from the earth. Invite it to connect with the fire that burns within your own body; the rotating yellow sphere of the solar plexus chakra."

1. Forest Bathing -

Practiced in Japan for decades, "forest bathing" (Shinrin-Yoku) is a mindful way to connect with nature by slowly walking through a forest and focusing on the sights, sounds, and smells around you. The goal is to slow down and engage with nature through the senses.

Studies have shown that individuals who practice forest bathing regularly not only report lower stress levels but also show long-term improvements in heart rate variability (HRV), which is a marker of improved autonomic nervous system balance. This means that their bodies can handle stress better, and remain calmer.

Here's a mindfulness practice to learn self-acceptance from trees:

"Placing your hands on the tree’s trunk, feel the grooves that caress your fingertips, the knots and blemishes that cover the bark’s surface. Perhaps you can go deeper into your connection by leaning into the energies that pass between you - how does your tree make you feel?"

 5. Nature Mindfulness Meditation -

A study in Mindfulness Journal demonstrated that participants who practiced mindfulness meditation in a natural setting experienced a greater reduction in perceived stress and anxiety compared to those who meditated indoors.

When we sit quietly by a river, or in the garden and focus on our breathing, the sounds and sensations around us, we will feel a sense of immediate relaxation. A study published in Scientific Reports found that natural sounds, such as birdsong and rustling leaves, trigger the brain’s relaxation response. Even listening to recordings of nature sounds can impact us positively.

Here's Nature Mindfulness Practice inspired by Ferns:

"Don't overthink it. The whispers of the natural world aren't found in the conscious, overthinking mind. They are found in the stillness of mindful moments - the lull in the morning breeze, the space between each breath - it is here in the silence, that wise intuition unfolds."

1. Nature Journaling

Journaling provides mental clarity, helps us simplify the web of complexities of thought, and is a proven practice for destressing. When we journal outdoors, being in nature further aids in shifting our line of thought from negative to positive, the glass-half-full outlook. In this relaxed state, we are more likely to notice the POETRY that lingers just beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.

We are bringing our focus back to nature via poetry, join in.

Incorporating nature into daily life doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. Simple practices—whether it’s a 10-minute walk, adding plants to your home, or spending mindful time outdoors—can make a measurable difference in your mental health starting today.

Beyond just the science -

the next time you are in nature, just pay attention - how does it feel? Do you feel at ease, and your heart rate is down to a comfortable calm? Do you feel the negative thinking shrinking, as the focus shifts to nature's flow?