Wild Wellbeing – Connecting with nature for mental health
Wild Wellbeing – Connecting with Nature for Mental Health
As someone with a background in nature conservation and environmental engagement, I’m passionate about the positive impact that engaging with nature can have on mental health. I’ve seen this in my work, bringing people into the outdoors and helping them to connect with nature, but I also know that I’ve benefitted from it first-hand. This is a huge topic for me, so I am going to focus in on how being in nature (and particularly volunteering in nature) can support the five ways to wellbeing – with some practical tips for how to bring a little nature into your day, even when you’re busy!
Being in nature helps us to be active
Whether it’s going for a walk or doing some gardening, or getting involved with some practical volunteering, the physical element of getting outdoors has clear benefits for fitness but it’s also great for mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which help us to feel better and raise self-esteem. Volunteering on outdoor task based work can help set achievable goals in a supportive environment and is more fun than going to the gym! Just moving is great for the brain, studies show that walking boost creative thinking by up to 60%. I know that when I’m sat at my laptop, stuck on an idea, all I need to do is take myself outside for a walk and the solution will come to me.
Being in nature helps us to connect with others
I’ve done lots of practical volunteering in my time, as well as leading groups of adults and young people in nature conservation tasks. Completing a task as part of a team gives us a sense of pride and belonging – there’s a reason lots of companies chose to do conservation volunteering days as part of their team building! Signing up to volunteer is a great way to meet people with shared values or even unite different people with a shared common purpose. A real highlight for me when I’ve led teams of volunteers has been to see younger student volunteers working with older people, both sharing their life skills with each other. Working as part of a team improves social functioning for people who might find interacting with others difficult and generally improves confidence.
Being in nature helps us to give
I used to enjoy saying something controversial when I started out my career in conservation as a full time volunteer, that volunteering for me wasn’t a selfless act because giving my time makes me feel so good! We get a “helpers high” as our brain releases endorphins when we are altruistic. Completing a task for nature helps us to feel part of a bigger picture, for the benefit of more than just ourselves. It gives us a sense of self-worth. We feel more part of our local community, part of a local, nation and global movement to help look after nature for future generations – and also an important part of the ecosystem ourselves. If you don’t feel that you have time to fit something like volunteering into your life right now, why not do something that feels manageable for you – like keeping some bee friendly plants in your garden or in a window box?
Being in nature helps us to take notice
Paying attention to the present moment can improve mental wellbeing, this is the central philosophy behind mindfulness. Being in nature is a multi-sensory experience. Paying attention to birdsong or the sound of a flowing river, or the feel of sun on your skin can all help to focus attention outside of the mind and really be in the moment. The Japanese healthcare system has been prescribing immersive forest bathing since the 1980s and studies have shown that the practice boosts the immune system and lowers blood pressure.
As someone who considers themselves to be pretty in tune with nature, I still like to find strategies to keep myself focuses and noticing things. I’m keeping a list of all the birds I’ve spotted this year and I’m finding this is really motivating me to keep my eyes and ears open when I’m outdoors, and to find the time to be still and just watch.
If you want to know more about Nature Connectedness, University of Derby is home to the Nature Connectedness Research Group which has worked with the Wildlife Trusts, National Trust and RSPB to look at the psychology behind connecting with nature.
Being in nature helps us to learn
As someone who worked for many years in environmental education, aiming to engage people of all ages in nature, this is something very close to my heart. Outdoor learning in particular can suit people who are kinesthetic learners, learning through doing, rather than a classroom environment. Forest School theory looks at skills progression over time to improve confidence and resilience, and I think this is as relevant to adults as it is to children. Deep learning can help you to achieve a state of flow, where there is a concentration on the task at hand and total immersion in the moment leading to a loss of self-consciousness and helps to calm as busy mind – I find this particularly when I’m immersed in natural and heritage craft activities such as willow weaving or green wood working.