Nature’s Stress and Anxiety Relief, Naturally!

Being present with nature brings us into the moment and can inspire feelings of awe.

I love to talk about the simple, natural, free and easy things that life already gave us to support our health and well-being. Even though it may not seem like it in this crazy mixed-up world of ours, there’s actually not much that’s more natural and restorative than spending time in nature.

This article looks at why that is and how we can make the most of it to relieve stress in the moment and as an anxiety management tool for the long term.

Spending time in nature doesn’t have to mean ‘going bush’. It can be as simple as sitting in your local park. Time in nature can also be interpreted as time with nature, so simply taking time to closely observe and be present with something of the natural world, such as a tree, a bird, a pebble or a flower, can be supportive. Check out the kid in the photo, entranced by the magical beauty of the dragonfly!

The concept of taking time in nature may seem inaccessible for some due to location or time constraints; certain phobias may preclude others from venturing confidently beyond the safety of four walls. If you find yourself in one of these situations, stay tuned because we’ll look at some ways of working with theses constraints later in the article, to support you to access some of these healing natural benefits.

If you’re already one for spending time in nature, you’re probably already familiar with the calming effects on your mind and nervous system.

Why does time in nature, or time connecting with nature, relieve stress and reduce anxiety?

It’s pretty easy for us to forget, after having moved ever more away from nature over the past few generations, that we are actually creatures of nature. Our natural state involves connection with all of the elements and cycles and systems of nature.

I’m quite sure it’s this ever-widening expanse between the constructs of the ‘new’ human world and the natural world that we were designed for, that is contributing to the increasing incidence of not only anxiety but of dis-eases across the board. Actually, it seems like a bit of a no-brainer to me.

It makes sense that when we remove ourselves from our constructed new world (of toxins, stressors, unnatural schedules, materials and electromagnetic frequencies...) and immerse ourselves in nature, we have a sense of coming home to a natural state of healthy balance. This sense may be conscious, or it may be subconscious, recognised by our bodies.

It likely also has to do with the Earth's frequency, known as the Schumann Resonance. Not at all surprisingly, our brains and bodies are historically naturally attuned to this frequency. All of the electronics and radio waves and wifi and devices with their own electromagnetic frequencies, interfere with this natural resonant frequency of the Earth and the life she supports.

When we get deep into nature and away from all the techno-generated frequencies filling the space like soup in a bowl, we have an opportunity to reconnect and immerse ourselves in the natural frequency we were designed for.

We know that slower, deeper breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the boss of the rest and digest mode. You can learn more about all that here. When we’re away from the hustle and bustle and demands of our work and home lives, spending time in nature, we tend to naturally breathe more slowly and deeply.

Often when we’re spending time in nature, we’re also getting in a bit of exercise. This is not necessary to enjoy the benefits of time in nature, however exercise comes with its own range of benefits that multiply the positive effects.

The very air we breathe in nature provides us with more oxygen and negative ions, naturally producing a calming effect.

Even the harmless bacteria in the soil, communicating with our own microbiome, have a positive effect on our serotonin levels.

While we love how ‘connected’ our devices make us appear, the reality is the constant barrage of notifications and information is not really as helpful as it seems. It can actually lead to serious overload and is a cause of remaining in the fight or flight mode. I could go on about that for hours but will leave it for now.

So, another benefit of time in nature and leaving the phone behind, or, even better, getting right out of range, is detaching from that sense of alert anticipation and allowing yourself to come to the rest, repair and digest mode.

Obviously, the more you can do this and for longer periods, the better.

There is a strong association between connection with nature and low levels of anxiety and depression.

A stronger connection with nature is likely to encourage being more in synch with the natural, healthy rhythms and cycles of being human and adopting a lifestyle that accommodates these rhythms and cycles, rather than struggling against them. For example, going to bed not too long after dark and getting up with the rising of the sun.

A stronger connection with nature is also likely to motivate a desire to consume a more natural diet – whole foods as opposed to processed and water as opposed to sugar drinks. The positive impacts on mental as well as physical health derived from a healthy, natural diet are many and discussed elsewhere.

When we allow our awareness to become focused on the beauty and wonder of the natural world, we are distracted from the worries that can plague our minds and generate those anxious feelings in our bodies.

Further to this, nature can move us to feelings of awe, let's face it, nature's pretty awesome. Awe is just one of the superior feelings that rapidly moves us away from stress.

I just want to add, planet lover that I am, that the more connected we are with nature, the less we want or need to consume and the more likely we’re going to want to care for our natural environment. Climate change or pollution solution? Just might be.

How to make the most of Time in Nature or Time with Nature

First and foremost, just getting into nature, wherever or however you can, is the place to start.

Depending on where you live and what your capacity for access is, this might be getting into the bush or the forest, or down to the beach, or alongside a river or a lake in a natural setting.

It might be going to your local park. Maybe it’s going into your backyard or sitting on your patio with some potted plants. Even standing with a lone tree in a city-scape.

Wherever possible, take off your shoes and allow yourself to benefit from this close personal contact with the Great Mother. Lying down on her is lovely too.

If you’re largely confined to being indoors, you could spend some time with your indoor plants. You might have a loved one or carer bring you items for a nature table. Watching a nature documentary or listening to a guided nature meditation, or nature sounds, can be supportive too.

The next step to enhance your connection is to begin to engage your senses.

Allow yourself to really notice and pay attention to what you can see, in broad and minute detail. Look at the landscape before you in larger sections. Then allow yourself to zoom in on things like a small patch of grass, a butterfly, a leaf or a piece of bark. And then zoom in even more.

Allow yourself to notice everything you can hear, all the faint and loud sounds, near and far. Wind, birds, insects and so on. Notice the natural sounds of your own body too.

Allow yourself to notice everything you can smell – the earth, the grass, the air, the blooms. Scrunch a leaf and inhale the aromas, or get your nose into a flower

Part your lips and allow yourself to notice what you taste. You might nibble a leaf or a blade of grass.

And allow yourself to feel. Feel the earth supporting your body. Feel the air on your skin. Touch the grass, the stones, the leaves, the bark, the water. Feel the steady beating of your heart, the gentle pulsing of your blood through your veins. Feel the rhythm of your breathing, the flow of air moving in and out in its own natural time.

Allow yourself to focus on one sense at a time and allow yourself to focus on different combinations of senses and allow yourself to immerse all of your senses simultaneously in all of the information that your environment is sharing with you.

Feel the Earth beneath you and her life all around you.

Allow yourself to be with that and to rest in that.

It might feel a little strange at first but, like with anything, the more you practise, the better you get at it and the more you’ll get out of the experience.

As you can see from what we’ve covered here today, spending time in nature is going to benefit not only your own mental and physical well-being, it also has the potential to lead to positive environmental outcomes that benefit all of us who call this beautiful planet home.