The Many Benefits of Nature Therapy

It's all about tapping into the healing powers of Mother Earth. In a world where we tend to go from screen to screen, making a conscious effort to spend more time in nature can be especially therapeutic.

Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind The Many Benefits of Nature Therapy    Also known as ecotherapy, nature therapy is all about tapping into the healing powers of Mother Earth. In a world where we tend to go from screen to screen, making a conscious effort to spend more time in nature can be especially therapeutic. Doing so can help us decompress, re-ground ourselves, blow off steam, and recharge.   I can't think of a more cost-effective way of ensuring health benefits than through exposure to natural environments,"  — VIREN SWAMI, PHD    The Benefits of Nature Therapy Spending more thoughtful time in nature can help us in a few key ways: Boosts Happiness: When we are able to slow our thoughts and appreciate the world around us, it can make us feel happier. Decreased Anxiety & Depression: Even spending 10 minutes in a natural setting every day can have a significant impact on your mental health. Improved Cognition: Studies show that exposure to natural environments can improve our memory, cognitive flexibility, and attention control.   Examples of Nature Therapy There's truly no "right" way to do nature therapy. It's as simple as surrounding yourself with the greenness of the earth, whether that means walking to a nearby park, adding plants to your home, or taking a morning hike. That said, there are so many ways you can make nature therapy feel fun, exciting, and special. Gardening: Whether you have a windowsill, a raised bed, or a large space, playing in the dirt and fostering new green life can be highly therapeutic. Farm Therapy: This involves working with crops or animals. Forest Bathing: Based on a Japanese practice, forest bathing is the practice of spending mindful, slow time in wooded areas where you're fully immersed in nature. Natural Soundscapes: If you don't have easy access to a green space, close your eyes and listen to the sounds of nature. That might be waves, rainforests, waterfalls, or rain. Wilderness therapy: In its structured form, wilderness therapy focuses on helping groups of teens and young adults work through behavior issues. Adventure therapy: This involves doing higher intensity outdoor activities, such as rock climbing, water rafting, or long-distance hiking. Camping: Simply spending a night or two in the great outdoors—sans smartphones—is an easy way to get re-acquainted with Mother Earth.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body  This week, put your phone on silent and make it a priority to spend 10 to 15 minutes with nature. This might mean potting a new plant, walking through a park, listening to nature soundscapes, or exploring a new trail. Observe how you feel before, during, and after. If the practice was therapeutic for you, set an intention to continue spending bursts of time in nature.   If you don't have easy access to a green space, try incorporating plants into your home. Doing so can improve air quality, foster empathy, and help you feel closer to nature. The Sill not only sells a wide variety of plants, but offers access to their team of houseplant experts to help field questions about the health of the plants you purchase. For more indoor plant recommendations, check out our top 10 picks.   From glaciers to volcanoes to forests and beyond, the Soundscapes App allows you to travel the world to discover some of the planet's most beautiful sonic wonders.     This Week on The Verywell Mind Podcast   On tomorrow's episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I talk with actress KJ Smith about how to become your own biggest fan. Tune in to hear how she learned to do it.   Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next How Nature-Based Activities Improve Mood and Limit Anxiety READ NOW Farms That Provide Animal Therapy Can Help Reduce Stress READ NOW The Benefits of Forest Bathing READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH MEREDITH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy