Nature Exposure and Well-being

Nature.

Trees, rivers, mountains, the sea, plants, animals, birds…

The sun on our faces, and the wind in our hair.

There was a time in human existence when all those things were much closer to our skin than they are today. Certainly, there are whole cultures, groups, and individuals that remain close to nature. Still, for many of us in the United States and other Western, industrialized countries, nature is no longer our close, constant, tactile companion. In fact, for some of us, walking from our front doors to our cars is the closest we get to nature. Urban living (especially for those in lower socio-economic areas), fear of the unknown, and increased indoor activities have reduced nature exposure for many people (Bratman, 2019). Sure, there are those among us who get outside as often as possible. The hikers, campers, foragers, boaters, joggers, and bird-watchers are out there, but the truth remains – we are not as close to nature as we once were, and that’s unfortunate for many reasons. The fact that disconnection from nature is detrimental to our health, mental and physical is primary among them.

Professionals in both the medical and mental health fields are well aware of the positive benefits that nature exposure offers. They also understand that it's not easy for everyone to get into contact with nature, whether that’s due to internal or external constraints. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among other countries, professionals are recommending (and yes, even prescribing) time in nature in combination with other, more traditional treatments when designing treatment plans for their patients.

Walk with a Doc is an organization with over 500 chapters around the globe. It was founded in 2005 by an Ohio cardiologist. Walks are led by physicians, medical students (Walk with a FUTURE Doc) and other licensed healthcare professionals (Just Walk) (Walk with a Doc, 2024).

There’s a program in San Francisco called The Center for Nature and Health (Mock, 2022). Dr. Nooshin Razani takes pediatric patients and their families to regional parks to sit among the redwood trees. Razani’s patients have a variety of diagnoses including autism, obesity, and anxiety.

Green social prescribing is a practice in the United Kingdom (NHS England, 2022). Professionals connect people with different nature-oriented community groups and prescribe activities like conservation volunteering, walking, water sports, and other green (land-based) and blue (water-based) activities alongside more traditional referrals like housing and financial assistance.

In the United States and Canada, ParkRX and PaRX (respectively) provide healthcare practitioners with guides, toolkits, case studies, and research to support nature prescriptions.

Not every doctor or healthcare professional is going to write a prescription for nature exposure. Don’t let that stop you from getting out there. While nature exposure may not cure every ailment, and we’re not recommending it as a substitute for medical or mental health care, its benefits are well-documented. With appropriate thought and planning*, nature exposure is a safe and inexpensive well-being boost for most people. Hopefully, as we become more aware of the benefits, nature exposure will also become more accessible to everyone regardless of socio-economic status. Here are some of the benefits of nature exposure (Bratman, et.al., 2019; Jimenez, et.al., 2021; Lee, et.al., 2019; McDougal, et.al., 2021; Menhas, et.al., 2024; Mock, 2022; & Nguyen, et.al., 2023):

• Better sleep
• Happiness and a sense of subjective well-being
• Less mental distress
• More creativity
• Better memory
• Improved concentration
• A sense of meaning and purpose
• Positive social interactions
• Positive social cohesion
• Better impulse control
• Decreased anxiety
• Decreased depression
• Improved ability to manage life’s responsibilities
• A sense of meaning and purpose
• Improved performance in school
• Decreased antidepressant use in older adults

The great thing is that you don’t have to do anything complicated or scary. Further, you don’t even have to stay out for very long to reap the benefits. Researchers found that just 40 seconds spent looking at nature could improve concentration (Lee, et.al., 2015). That means that sitting outside in a garden, at a park, or near a lake for just a few minutes at a time has benefits. In case you need a little more encouragement or inspiration, here’s a list of 20 things that you could do to increase your nature exposure and start reaping benefits:

• Sit in a garden or park.
• Walk around the block.
• Do some yard work.
• Volunteer at a neighborhood garden.
• Learn to kayak.
• Go for a swim in a lake, river, or ocean (or just sit next to the water).
• Climb a tree.
• Try foraging.
• Go tubing.
• Visit your local arboretum.
• Ride a bike.
• Go camping with friends.
• Learn to skateboard.
• Take up a group sport like softball or volleyball.
• Sit under a tree and read a book.
• Go to the beach.
• Try an outdoor yoga class.
• Go hiking.
• Take a tree-identification class with a park ranger.
• Go bird-watching.

Just get outside**. There’s no pressure to do anything specific, and you don’t need to spend long hours out in the hot sun. Take nature as a vitamin - just a little bit as often as possible, and reap the rewards. You health and well-being will thank you.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out. Luna provides integrative care for mental health and substance use and we may be able to help. Contact us at 1-888-448-LUNA.

*Remember to take care of yourself. If you’re going into the sun, wear an appropriate SPF, take ample amounts of water, and take breaks in the shade. Know and honor your physical limits, and if you’re going out alone, let someone know where you’re off to.

**Always talk to your doctor before taking on new physical activities. Stay safe.