What is the Nature Prescription?
The nature prescription changes lives. Now, more than ever, natural spaces are the place to be. Research is revealing that time immersed outside can boost our immune system, alter mental states, and increase our overall health. What’s more, outside we are able to find perspective and connect with a sense of awe, creating space for more experiential-based feelings, quieting the thinking mind.
Nature as an intervention is growing in popularity for many reasons. Time outdoors boosts health both mentally and physically. Outside, we tend to be more present in our environment, our senses awake to our surroundings. Also, we tend to be active and unplugged from technology, which studies show is vital for mental health. As a result, our stress hormones can subside while endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and other beneficial neurotransmitters are released through exercise, camaraderie, and joyfulness. Nature is a powerful healer. It has multifaceted benefits. Hence, the outdoors is not just somewhere to briefly visit or walk the dog—it is, in fact, deeply nourishing for us humans. It is a part of us. Better yet, we are a part of it.
The Research on Nature & Mental Health
Studies reveal what we’ve long known intuitively—that regular, consistent time spent in nature is powerful for our well-being. And this goes far beyond simply uplifting our mood. Also, the outdoors can directly impact physical health and balance stress levels, ameliorate anxiety, and boost our immune system. Consequently, at a time when we’re spending more time inside than ever before, adventures in nature are curative and necessary.
“The fact that doctors are prescribing time outside is important. Nature is our essence, and our essence is to thrive,” says Tim Walsh, founder of Adventure Recovery. “The impact of our time in nature is immeasurable and permeates all levels of our well-being. Time outside is not just a nice idea; it’s a necessity.”
Why the Nature Prescription
When we were children, many of us would stay out until dark. We’d build forts, walk in the woods, play near streams. For many of us, the outdoors was simply part of our day-to-day experience. But we’ve disconnected from this in today’s technology saturated culture. Nature Deficit Disorder is real and impacting all of us, especially children who are inundated with screens and accelerated information transmissions each day. In addition, the traditional model of sitting in classrooms for up to eight or nine hours per day is not only potentially not ideal, but also proven to be unhealthy. Sitting in general is not beneficial, and neither is the excessive time spent inside. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend approximately 90 percent of our time in enclosed spaces or indoors. We need to get outside.
Nature brings us into immediate connection with our environment. The seasons, the rhythms of the day, and the balance of being part of a broader ecosystem heightens our awareness and connects us to something greater. In addition, we’re breathing fresh air, soaking in vitamin D, and moving our bodies. This feels good, naturally.
The nature prescription benefits everyone. And it especially helps those of us in recovery from addiction. In addition, moving our bodies through exercise outside creates a strong sense of self, boosting our self-esteem and happiness. Science substantiates this now more than ever. Furthermore, time in nature or forest bathing benefits our mental health directly. Hence, addictive tendencies generated by isolation come into balance.
How to Experience Nature as Healer
Get outside. It’s as simple as opening the door. Go on out there! You can go for a walk, ski, bike ride, swim. It’s all there. The moment we step outside, the experience goes beyond our thoughts and we’re immediately pulled into our body, into the moment, and into a new awareness. Movement activates various bodily functions and systems that can facilitate the release of what we call happy hormones. These happy hormones and neurotransmitters can influence our mood and well-being. This is powerful, especially for those of us who tend toward overthinking (which is most of us….) In addition, we're devoting intentional time toward ourselves and self-care, which is also vital and builds our sense of esteem and value. Immeasurable.
Learn a new skill. Ever wanted to learn how to rock climb? Mountain bike? Surf? Whitewater paddle? Snowshoe? The instruction and knowledge are available to all of us and the more we learn about how to be in nature, the more we can enjoy it.
Challenge yourself. When we explore new things, we expand our awareness. Furthermore, when we push ourselves beyond the comfort zone, we build our capacity and our resilience. Learning means letting go and being willing to listen and evolve.
Experience presence. Some of us spend a lot of time in the mind, analyzing or even perseverating. Furthermore, we’ve all been through a lot with the pandemic. Time in nature teaches us to slow down, be present for ourselves, and open our awareness to the surroundings. We quiet the analytical brain and build somatic awareness. This is hugely beneficial for our wellness.
Get off the grid. There are times —every day—where we just need to unplug, untether, and create space. It can be challenging to sustain the desired impact, so at times longer reprieves may be in order. Immersions in the wild allow us to reconnect with self and others, tune in to the finer rhythms of nature, and refill the well. This is why we go.
If you or someone you love needs a nature prescription, you are not alone. You deserve to live a life beyond your wildest dreams. What we’ve learned, through years of experience, is that the best way to truly thrive is through consistent time in nature. It’s one thing to be outside a couple of hours a week; it’s another to get out every day, doing what you love. Off that couch!
Image courtesy of unsplash
*Article updated Dec, 2022; originally published October 2019