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 favour 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.
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 and 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 oneself. 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 love, respect, and care for the body. 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.
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 that exposure to nature helps children and youth calm their nervous systems. Two years ago, researchers showed that taking a walk in nature was more mentally restorative than a similar walk on a city street.
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 colour 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 patient 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.”