How to Promote Better Mental Health by Connecting with Nature
Advice piece by Bri Ryerson, Wellness Operations Intern.
Brianna Ryerson is currently a senior at North Carolina State University studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Human Biology and a minor in Psychology. She has always been passionate about Psychology, more specifically, how Psychology relates to mental health and the destigmatization of mental health and wellbeing especially for women in STEM-related fields. These fields of study produce a lot of stress, anxiety, and burnout, therefore Bri wants to do everything she can to make sure their needs are met and their voices are heard!
Going outside is one of the first things most people suggest to you when you might be feeling a little down. In their defense, going outside positively promotes more exercise and helps bring in a new change of scenery when you need it the most! I have found a short list of activities to engage in outside that might not be your typical walk in the park, but are more affordable and accessible than some other outdoor activities.
Growing up, my favorite summer activity was swimming. This is a great way to get a full-body exercise while also relieving stress that gets trapped in your body. You can hit an indoor or outdoor lap pool to get some exercise, or go to your local public pool with some friends to hang out and enjoy the weather. The pool is a perfect staple of summertime and allows you to enjoy a change of scenery while ensuring relaxation and feeling a little bit better whenever you leave! Other fun options of time spent in the water might include lakes, rivers, or beaches nearby. There are lots of fun water sports to do at most lakes, such as kayaking. If the beach is more your speed, there are many different activities to enjoy such as volleyball, frisbee, cornhole, and kite flying. I even found a bucket list website that lists a total of 60 activities to do when you are at the beach!
Another great way to connect with nature while also connecting with your body and mind is yoga done outside. Whether you do yoga on your back porch, in your yard, at the pool, at the beach, or even on a paddleboard in the water, this is a great way to promote positive mental health through nature and exercise. Not a yoga person? No problem! Running outside is a great way to combine nature and exercise. This might sound boring, however, there are many different ways to be creative and intentional about your outside workouts. Find new paths, parks, or neighborhoods to run at. Find a cool destination that you would like to stop at either at the end of your run or in the middle of it - use this stop as motivation to complete the run. Use these helpful tips to boost motivation and excitement about running as it also helps promote health and wellbeing, especially when it comes to our mental health. Lastly, hiking is a great way to connect with nature while doing less extensive exercise compared to running. If hiking trails are convenient and accessible for you then get out, see the sights, take in the beauty, and smell the fresh air! All of these things boost mental wellness and overall happiness.
While just getting outside to enjoy the weather is so important for our mental health - there are many different ways that we can spice up our relationship with nature and use the beautiful sights around us to our advantage. Keeping and promoting a healthy relationship with nature through exercise or fun activities ensures more positivity and a better mind-body connection.
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Project Passport is a proactive mental wellness company that aims to bring mental wellness retreats, workshops and other services to company teams. We also help individuals create joy in their lives every step of the way. To learn more about our company retreats and services, click here. Our travel retreats will resume in the future as the world reopens.