The Wellbeing Benefits of Nature and How to Enjoy Them

Mental health is the most dominant and pressing issue of our time. Whether you’re a high-performing adult or a teenag-er struggling at school, mental wellbeing benefits should be a focus in your daily life. From spending time in nature to being physically active outside and from experiencing social wellbeing benefits to the nightly wellbeing benefits of sleep, here’s your chance to learn about the wellbeing benefits of nature and how to enjoy them this autumn to achieve better sleep, be more grateful for all the good that is in your life, feel physically and emotionally healthier, and, ultimately, be happier in your everyday life.

7 Mental Wellbeing Benefits of Nature

The mental wellbeing benefits of self-care are inarguable, and they are many! When we eat better, get good sleep, manage our time well, and enjoy both the wellbeing benefits of work-life balance and the wellbeing benefits of financial wellness, we are able to better enjoy all of the small things in life, like a nice hike on a cool autumn morning and the smell of freshly baked muffins on the weekend, and take better advantage of our free time to enjoy a night camping un-der the stars or an afternoon fishing on the local lake.

Here are 7 ways in which the wellbeing benefits of nature may help improve your mental wellbeing:

• Improve your mood

• Reduce stress

• Reduce angry thoughts and feelings

• Encourage relaxation

• Improve physical wellbeing

• Boost confidence and self-esteem

• Help strengthen your connection to your local community

• Reduce loneliness

The ways in which you can spend time in nature are almost limitless. You can simply take a walk around your neighbor-hood or plan a camping and fishing staycation weekend. Here are some more ideas for maximizing the emotional well-being benefits of spending time in nature:

• Volunteer to work in a community garden

• Take regular hikes

• Bike riding

• Rent a pontoon boat for a relaxing day on the water

• Go kayaking or canoeing

• Spend a day fishing with kids or friends

• Listen to outdoorsy podcasts

• Visit a zoo or wildlife sanctuary and connect with animals

4 Physical Wellbeing Benefits of Nature

There are countless wellbeing benefits of exercise and those can be doubled when occurring outside in nature and breathing in the fresh air. When you are physically active in nature, whether that’s on a trail run with your dog, taking a leisurely hike, or going on a bike ride with your kids, you will be contributing to your physical wellbeing by:

• Reducing your blood pressure

• Decreasing muscle tension

• Lowering your heart rate

• Reducing the production of stress hormones

Here are 5 more outdoor activities with mental wellbeing benefits to try this year and learn about the emotional wellbeing benefits of fighting back against the winter blues that are right around the corner as the cold creeps in.