Twice in recent history, nature has changed my life. The first time was a few summers ago, when I was lucky enough to live by the ocean for several months. Staring out into the waves, taking in the beautiful sea breeze and never-ending expanse of blue sky every day filled me with a steadiness and peacefulness I had up to that point never experienced. The second time nature changed my life was just a year ago, when I moved back to my parents’ house in the suburbs after spending a year living in Philadelphia. Living in that city environment was not for me, and as a result I became miserable and anxious. When I came back to my parents’ house, I had easier access to parks and forests, and grass and trees became much more prevalent in my daily life. Being surrounded by wild greenery calmed my nerves and steadied me.
More recently I’ve found that when I’m feeling unhappy or unsure of myself, retreating to nature brings me peace. The stress of working and going to school makes it hard to find time to get outside, but it also necessitates making the time for being in nature. For myself and many others, being immersed in nature is a form of healing and self-care.
One theory I have as to why nature is so healing is because it is exactly that: natural. It is the natural world, and perhaps it allows us to connect to some natural, instinctual part of ourselves. Another reason I believe nature to be so healing is because of its vastness. Contemplating nature and being surrounded by its greatness has a tendency to put things into perspective for me. My problems don’t seem so monumental in the grand scheme of things. Connecting to nature allows me to re-center myself and reprioritize my life.
There are multiple studies suggesting that nature is good for mental health, and there are plenty of books available on the study of ecotherapy. I believe the linkage between nature and healing is apparent regardless, just based off of my personal experience.
Though it can be difficult to make time to immerse yourself in nature, for people who feel its healing effects, the immersion is essential for our well-being. Whether you do homework or read outdoors, go for a walk in a park, explore a new hiking trail, or just relax in a nature environment, making the time to get outside, even just for a little while, can work wonders for the mind, body, and soul.