Why Connecting with Nature Makes Us Feel Better About Ourselves
· Time
Twice this week I found myself turning to the outdoors for a much needed pause. After dinner one night, the scent of lilac in the air, I stood and admired the evening light and considered my gardening plans for the season. Then the other morning, on a run along a forest trail, I ditched my usual Spotify playlist in favor of birdsong. Both experiences left me clear headed and refreshed, and I told myself I should carve out these moments more often. After all, it’s well known that spending time outdoors can boost wellbeing and reduce stress. But now a new study uncovers why exactly nature is so powerful at improving life satisfaction—no matter who you are.
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In the largest survey of its kind, researchers at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, asked over 50,000 people between the ages of 18 to 99 from across 58 countries about their experience with nature. What they found is that, regardless of age or gender identity, connecting with nature unlocks a more positive body image of one’s self. And it’s this relationship that supports a better life experience.
It’s about more than just feeling good about the way you look though. “Positive body image refers to a love, respect, and care for the body,” says Viren Swami, the lead author of the new study and professor of psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. “People who are high in positive body image value their physical selves, appreciate the unique characteristics of their bodies, and respect and care for their bodies.”
There are two key ways that nature helps us feel better about ourselves. The first mechanism at play is that moments spent in nature are linked to higher levels of self-compassion, defined by the authors as “the ability to be kind to oneself at times of despair.” Whether it’s birdwatching or hiking, stargazing or stopping to smell a flower, engaging with nature opens up an opportunity for what the researchers call a state of “cognitive quiet”—when our minds are awakened and eased by the softer senses in nature, thereby allowing us to process thoughts with less mental strain. This in turn encourages people to be kinder to themselves.
The second factor underpinning greater life satisfaction is that nature helps us feel restored, according to the study. Half of the world currently lives in urban environments. In the U.S., 80% of the population resides in cities. Taking a pause from the mental strain driven by these fast-paced, urban lives—where our senses are overwhelmed from juggling the noise from traffic, crowds, and screens—is essential in supporting a more positive sense of self, the researchers found.
Spending a few moments taking in the rustling leaves outside your window or allowing a ladybug to land on your hand helps wash away the mental fatigue that might be weighing on your mood. Indeed, a separate study last year showed exposure to nature helps children and youth calm their nervous systems. And two years ago researchers showed that taking a walk in nature was more mentally restorative than a similar walk on a city street.
“Human beings today are the most disconnected from nature than at any other time in human history,” says Swami, “and this has huge implications not just for our mental and physical health, but also for the natural world itself.”
The new findings support years of research showing that nature is good for your health. Even spending just 20 minutes surrounded by greenery, such as in your local park—whether sitting on a bench or exercising—can improve wellbeing, one study found. But green isn’t the only color that works. Spending time near rivers and lakes is also a mood-booster. And doctors have taken note. Over the past decade there’s been an increased trend in doctors writing prescriptions for nature walks to improve patience stress.
So, how best to reconnect with nature? Swami’s advice is two-fold: “When in nature, try and switch off—by that I mean, switch off your smartphones, because studies show that spending time in nature while on your smartphone is no better than spending time indoors.”
“But this doesn't mean switching off your mind,” he adds. “The important thing is to take an active interest in, and to be curious about, the natural world—listening to the wind in the trees or quietly watching a sunset, for example. Nature is often ‘softly fascinating,’ which means that it is able to capture our attention without much effort. So spending time in nature and being actively curious about the natural world will bring the sorts of benefits we describe.”