Reconnect With Nature to Build Resilience

When was the last time you spent some time in nature? It’s amazing how the simple act of being outdoors can replenish, refuel, and reset you.

In the last year, we have been oversaturated by screen time for work, school, and online social events. If you’re feeling a sense of disconnection from nature, it is not surprising.

The good news is that getting out in nature for just a few minutes can restore your well-being, build resilience, and even make you feel more connected to something greater than yourself.

3 Ways Connecting with Nature Builds Resilience:

#1 - Decreases Stress Levels

Uncertainty, anxiety, and stress have become the new normal with pervasive technology designed to constantly compete for our attention. Our brains are not designed to keep up with this amount of information, making it is easy for us to slip into mental fatigue, overwhelm, and burnout. Research shows that being out in nature has a profound effect on our brain and our behavior, helping us reduce anxiety, worry, and stress, while also helping increase our attention capacity to get back to a normal, healthy mental state.

#2 - Restores Mind and Body

There is a reason why the phrase "Happy Camper" exists! Grounding, also called earthing, is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. Recent scientific research has explored grounding for inflammation, cardiovascular disease, muscle damage, chronic pain, and mood. Take a few moments to stand barefoot in the grass. It is a great mindfulness exercise.

#3 - Increases Happiness

A good walk in nature can help us feel better about life in general, and it's not just because of the exercise benefits we get as a result. Just by being outdoors and using all our senses to explore nature, we can be more mindful of the present moment. Growing research shows that green space can boost your mood and improve your mental health. In fact, a recent study in Denmark found that childhood exposure to green space (parks, soccer fields, the woods) reduces the risk for developing an array of psychiatric disorders during adolescence and adulthood.

You don't need an exotic vacation or hikes through the mountains to gain the mental health benefits of being in nature - you simply have to step outside. Sometimes the answer is right in front of us. We just have to open the door.

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