The Power of Nature

~ Bailey Shawley, M.Ed, CCTS-F, Specialized Parenting and Educational Consultant

Living in Central PA, I never thought I would be fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights from my home, let alone as clearly and crisply as I was able to last evening. And within minutes, Instagram and Facebook were flooded with images similar to the one my husband captured from our back deck. The social media posts and comments were nearly identical across my feeds: “Get outside right now!” The pinks, reds, greens, whites, and lilacs danced across the sky well into the predawn hours, and we all were dazzled and awed by the sight that many of us had on bucket lists as a maybe-someday-we-will-be-lucky-enough-to-witness-this-in-person event.

Those of us in the mental health field tell people to “get outside” as much as possible, because the research supporting the mental health benefits of being in nature is clear. “Spending time in nature can improve mood, lower anxiety, and improve cognition and memory,” according to Mayo Clinic nurse practitioner Jodie M. Smith, APRN., C.N.P., D.N.P., M.S.N. Think about how many people purchased campers and RVs at the height of the COVID pandemic. We knew we needed to get away, relax, and reduce stress. But, flocking to the outdoors and prioritizing self-care died down as our lives returned to normal.

I’m thrilled that a rare event like seeing the Aurora Borealis got so many people off their couches, out of their homes, and back into nature. And, I am fortunate enough to live in an area of the country where hiking and biking trails, nature parks, arboretums, creeks, streams, and rivers are abundant. But, I’ll be the first to admit that I do not spend as much time outside in nature as I should. I’m making a concerted effort to change that, and if you’re like me, you need to have some valid reasons to make a change to your daily routine. I like reminding myself of these mental health benefits of getting outside and into nature:

• The mind and body relax more in nature, which leads to increased pleasure, concentration, and focus.
• There is a link between nature and happiness: people who spend more time outdoors have lower risks of depression, mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.
• We are more likely to be active when we are outside: nature’s healing properties are enhanced when we are physically active outside, as endorphins are released and our self-esteem and mood improve.
• We are exposed to more sunlight outdoors, which releases our serotonin and vitamin D and leads to improved mood and focus and reduced stress.
• The outdoors are less chaotic and more calming: we are less likely to be distracted, on our phones, or checking our email when we are outside, and we are more able to recover from stress.

Knowing the mental health benefits of spending more time in nature is not just something personal for me, though. The bulk of my professional work as a parenting and educational consultant is using evidence-based strategies with clients so they can make improvements to their overall well-being. I would be doing a disservice to my clients if I did not educate them on the importance of getting outside in nature, especially considering the fact that the U.S. Surgeon General and American Academy of Pediatrics have declared a national state of emergency in children’s mental health, and studies show that young people are not spending enough time outside.

… key obstacles to overcome in getting youth to spend more time in nature are a lack of access, a lack of interest, and feelings of discomfort. Therefore, we need to work harder as a society to get kids outdoors.

It is time we start encouraging young people to get outside more frequently and consistently. Parents and guardians can prioritize spending time together in nature. Go for a walk after a family dinner. Take younger siblings to an older sibling’s sports practice or music lesson and draw on the sidewalk with chalk while you wait. Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Find leaves to identify and then make leaf rubbings to hang inside. Watch a sunset together. Teach your kids how to skip stones. Use an app to identify constellations. The possibilities are endless, and you can work as a family to decide how to spend your time outside together. It’s a naturally calming place to be, which makes it easier for families to connect more fully and communicate more effectively. And you’ll all be better off for doing so.

If you need support in spending more time outside together as a family or connecting with your family as a whole, reach out to schedule a consultation. The first consultation is free of charge to make sure we are a good fit and is available online or in person. Or, schedule a Reiki healing session or chakra reading. All B Connecting, LLC services are confidential and judgment free.