Nature Provides a Mental Health Boost
Brain fog. Depression. Trouble sleeping. Sick too often. There’s a free and highly accessible way to improve your mental health. And it’s right outside your door. Yes, you’ve guessed it. It’s nature.
Time in nature provides a variety of mental health benefits, including:
- Improving your quality of sleep
- Boosting immunity through exposure to good bacteria
- Benefiting cognitive function by reducing technological overstimulation
- Helping improve mental health through the vitamin D found in sunlight
- Lowering levels of stress in the body
- Protecting the eyes from developing nearsightedness
Bonus: you don’t have to go on a week-long camping retreat into the mountains to see the benefits (although that does sound nice). The health benefits from nature can be gained by walking the dog, gardening in your yard, or reading a book on a park bench. Truly, almost any activity you enjoy can improve your mental well-being as long as it’s outdoors and screenless.
And you won’t have to make major adjustments to your schedule or lifestyle to enjoy the health benefits.
Just 120 minutes throughout the week is enough to make a noticeable difference. Even increments as small as 20 minutes can be enough for some people.
The real trick is turning your favorite outdoor activities into habits, so you can continue to reap the mental health benefits of nature no matter how chaotic life gets.
Make Time in Nature a Habit
Integrating time in nature into your weekly wellness habits can significantly improve your long-term quality of life. Establishing a new habit can be complicated, even when we’re excited for the mental health benefits it will bring.
In his book ‘Atomic Habits,’ habit expert James Clear lays out four laws for creating a good habit. We’ll use the example of taking a morning walk, but these tips can help with essentially any new habit you want to build.
Law #1: Make it obvious
Give yourself a cue so it’s hard or impossible to forget to do your habit.
Example: The night before, set your walking shoes next to your bedroom door so you’ll always see them in the morning and remember your plan to walk outside.
Law #2: Make it attractive
Plan the habit so that it’s something you’ll look forward to.
Example: Make a route past a tree or creek you enjoy, or better yet, find a friend and walk together.
Law #3: Make it easy
Reduce friction and unnecessary steps that can make the habit difficult or frustrating.
Example: Have accessories such as an umbrella, a jacket, or sunglasses by the front door so it’s easy to grab what you need for different weather. After all, this is Iowa.
Law #4: Make it satisfying
Include a small, reasonable reward at the end of the habit.
Example: You could save your treasured first cup of coffee of the day for after your walk.
Find Health Benefits at Indian Creek Nature Center
Building habits to sustain a healthy lifestyle can be hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Indian Creek Nature Center offers a variety of trails, programs, and events that can make your mental health habits easier and more enjoyable.
Take a Walk in Nature
With seven miles of trails open 365 days a year from 5 AM until 10 PM, it’s easy to find a time to explore at the Nature Center. You can use our trail map to find a loop that fits your preferred distance, time, and scenery.
Join Others in Nature
There are several events going on at the Nature Center where you can get outdoors, enjoy wildlife with other nature lovers, and ultimately give back to yourself. Weekly events such as our free outdoor yoga series would be perfect for launching a new habit. Check out our events calendar to see the full list of events you can join.
Give Back While You Get Outside
You can also improve your mental well-being by volunteering. At Indian Creek Nature Center, you can even sign up for volunteer projects that are outdoors to double the health benefits. There are even weekly volunteering opportunities that can be part of a mental health habit that gives back!
No matter how you choose to spend time in nature, your time outdoors is an investment in your mental well-being. We hope to see you outside!