The Benefits of Nature On Our Mental Health

Family Yoga

9 Jun

(Article originally published in 2021)

We love the work of Raise Me To Read and their mission of “Ensuring all children in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro succeed in school and life.” They do this by focusing on three key areas:

School Readiness: “By providing families, caregivers, and educators with early literacy resources, community connections, and innovative supports, we can ensure that children come to school ready to learn”
School Attendance: “By tracking attendance data, working with organisations addressing attendance barriers, and encouraging safe and welcoming spaces, we can reduce chronic absences and improve school and life outcomes for children.”
Out of School Learning: “By creating situations in which children can read, play, and explore, caring adults help children maintain their learning. Activities at home and in the community teach children to understand the world around them and their place in it. “

We were so happy to hear from them about one their latest campaigns for the summer, “Great Outdoors Month” and how nature helps enhance mood and learning. We put some items together to help with the initiative and have included them below!

“Practicing yoga and mindfulness helps build happy, strong, resilient brains, and bringing nature Into the mix adds that extra element of calm, healing and connection to ourselves, others, and the Earth.” ~ Jen Armstrong MSc, HERE Co-Founder

Thank you to Raise Me To Read for all that you do!

The Benefits Of Nature On Our Wellbeing

Here are a few nature-themed mindfulness activities to help promote a sense of calm, healing and connection. Take a break during the day and can call upon these methods for those times where stress is amounting to toxic levels and you and your little ones need to take a moment and recenter.

Three evidence-based benefits of being in nature on wellbeing:

Reduced Stress and Anxiety: A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that spending just 20 minutes in nature can significantly lower cortisol levels, which are linked to stress. The study highlighted that even short durations of nature exposure can have profound effects on reducing anxiety and stress .
Boosted Mood and Emotional Wellbeing: Research published in Environmental Science & Technology showed that individuals who engage in nature-based activities, such as walking in a park or gardening, experience improved mood and lower rates of depression. The natural environment helps foster a sense of tranquility and positivity .
Enhanced Cognitive Function and Focus: The American Psychological Association (APA) cites studies indicating that time spent in nature can improve attention spans and cognitive function. Nature provides a restorative environment that helps to alleviate mental fatigue and enhance focus, particularly for those who spend a lot of time in urban settings .

"Getting out in nature can help us feel more connected to the world around us, which can in turn help us feel more connected to ourselves. Using mindfulness to bridge the gap, we can help to build brain architecture through nature affirmations, observation, breathing techniques and grounding ourselves." ~ Jen Armstrong MSc, HERE Co-Founder