I’ve been an avid hiker my whole life. From the time I first strapped on a backpack and headed into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I was hooked on the experience, loving the way being in nature cleared my mind and helped me to feel more grounded and peaceful.
But, even though I’ve always believed that hiking in nature had many psychological benefits, I’ve never had much science to back me up … until now, that is. Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and our behavior, helping us to reduce anxiety, brooding, and stress, and to increase our attention capacity, creativity, and ability to connect with other people.
“People have been discussing their profound experiences in nature for the last several hundred years—from Thoreau to John Muir to many other writers,” says researcher David Strayer, of the University of Utah. “Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally more healthy when we are interacting with nature.”
While he and other scientists may believe nature benefits our well-being, we live in a society where people spend more and more […]
It’s true! Being in Nature, makes you happier, healthier, and more grounded.
That’s why all the birds, flowers, trees, sunshine and air, conspire together to make our experience in nature so wonderful!
(Because they all know, that they have to live here too)
What a great article! Thanks Stephan!
Nature has always brought me closer to the “Spiritual Essence” of the Universe. Even just working in a garden; participating in the planting and growing of plants has this same effect and I try to teach everyone to be closer to nature by growing plants. Of course my family has always gained benefit from the produce of our organic garden and so have our friends and neighbors. We all were meant to spend time with nature in any way possible, even indoor plants can give us “good vibrations” which enhance our moods. I was lucky to have spent most of my early years in the woods hiking, and I feel that has given me a boost in mental capacity to be able to understand life and our meaning and purpose in it.