Get Outside: The Therapeutic Benefits of Nature

What is your earliest childhood memory?

Mine is being about two years old with nothing on but a diaper while taking a nap under a huge willow tree.  I remember lifting my little head up and feeling a breeze.  Seconds later, I was went back to sleep.  That was forty years ago and I can still see it clearly in my mind’s eye.

Nature is memorable.

Ever heard of or experienced adventure programs or team building activities that take place outside?  A profitable market exists because while motivational speakers can leave a message that may or may not be remembered (it depends on the speaker and the message), connecting people with their environment and other people leaves a lasting impression.  Fun and challenging, these programs invigorate while helping individuals to take away the skills and presence of mind to tackle their lives. 

Nature shapes our lives.

If you are looking for trends, start paying attention to what is getting researched and funded in the field of psychology.  Psychologists are coming up with a multitude of names for psychotherapy that utilizes interactions with nature.  Keep your eyes alerts to names like:  nature therapy, green therapy, outdoor therapy.  All of which are built upon the idea that going outside where there is an abundance of green stuff that grows is good for us.  And if you need a more technical sounding name, check out the emerging field called ecopsychology.

Nature is becoming a specialized niche in psychology.

Something about soaking up sunshine and leaving buildings behind feels great.  Think about the times you went to a park or sat in the sand at the beach.  Chances are, your memories are fond and happy ones.  Why?  Because you stopped thinking about all those worldly thoughts that attack your peace and ability to just be.  In a world full of distractions and deadlines, we need rest.

Nature is therapy.

Outside of it being fun and feeling great, nature has many other benefits that help people lead healthy meaningful lives.  Consider these:

• Economical:  It’s free.  With unemployment and pay cuts, individuals are looking for entertainment that doesn’t require cash or a credit card.
• Psychological:  Nature is the perfect place to reflect and be mindful.  Families connect and share time being together instead of sitting on couches watching TV.
• Physical:  Taking it outside is guaranteed to increase your level of alertness largely from kinesthetic motion and good old fashioned fresh air, both of which we all could use more of.  Plus it engages all your senses and helps to reduce stress.

So what are you going to do about it?

Well, you can get out a piece of paper and write down one way you want to re-connect with nature.  It can be packing a picnic,  taking a walk in your neighborhood, visiting a local park that you love but haven’t been to in years or just about anything else that gets you outside.  Next, make sure you do what you wrote down sometime within the month or chances are, you won’t.

It’s that simple. 

It’s amazing how the information that can help us the most is information that’s not new.  It’s just that we sometimes need to be reminded of all the things we already know. 

You know nature is good for you.

So go enjoy it!