How to Support Your Mental Health by Connecting with Nature

 
 

Have you ever watched the way a tree sways, how the wind helps them dance, and wondered what it must be like to be absorbed in nature? To allow yourself to surrender to the breeze without panicking at the thought of losing control? And, somehow,  swaying is exactly what you’re meant to be doing? There is so much that nature can teach us about slowing down, taking a moment to breathe, letting go, and tuning into our feelings. Grounding ourselves in nature can be used as a tool to help us heal our wounds, just as sustainability can help to heal the wounds humankind has inflicted on our Earth.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as baddies who occasionally find themselves dissociating while staring at moss in a river and thinking, “oh, to be moss,” we are reflecting on how nature has helped us find solace amongst the green. 

The Science Behind Earth Love & Self-Care

 
 

Even though Ms. Earth can feel mystical, the chemical reactions that are constantly firing off in our brains telling us whether we should feel happy, sad, angry, or anxious are all very real. A study by the European Centre for Environment and Human Health found that people who spend at least two hours a week in green spaces report better physical and psychological health than those who don’t. Feeling connected to nature can help us create more positive emotions like joy, creativity, and peacefulness. Being in nature can help lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body while increasing the production of feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. 

So many of us are getting our dopamine doses from temporary sources like social media. Whenever our phones go off or we watch a 15-second TikTok, our brains release a small amount of dopamine. That little shot of feeling good makes us want to recreate it again and again until we feel satisfied, which is why you might end up scrolling through your phones for hours on end. The dopamine we get from being in nature is different from the dopamine we get from using our phones because of the nature of the activities themselves. When we spend time in nature, we are engaging in activities that are positively associated with a sense of accomplishment, exploration, and connection to the natural world. Activities such as hiking a trail, exploring a new park in your area, or simply spending time in a quiet green space release greater, fuller amounts of dopamine. You can think of it as eating a nice big hearty meal versus just eating a bunch of processed snacks. 

If you find yourself slipping into the warm darkness that lies beneath your blankets and squinting at your phone screen for hours, it’s okay. It’s always possible to slip out from under the blankets and make your way into the warmth of the sun instead. Nature has a way of helping people to feel more grounded and present in the moment, which can be particularly helpful for those of us who struggle with racing thoughts or chronic worry and turn to technology to escape. 

Feeling Unsafe Outside 

 
 

We realize that connecting with nature may seem out of reach depending on a number of factors. For many communities of color, connecting with nature hasn’t always been easy. Due to a variety of historic and systemic factors, people of color may feel cut off or afraid of nature. The forced displacement of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands, the brutal exploitation of enslaved Africans in the agricultural industry, and the segregation of public parks and green spaces have all contributed to a long-standing legacy of exclusion from the natural world for people of color. The fear of violence or discrimination while participating in outdoor activities can further perpetuate feelings of being unsafe in green spaces. Advocating for systemic and reparative change is necessary if that inherent fear is to be healed for communities of color. There are amazing BIPOC outdoors activists and groups who acknowledge and address these barriers to help create a more inclusive and equitable relationship between communities of color and the outdoors. Activists like Eve Meets West, founder of Hike Clerb, have created a space where BIPOC can feel safe reconnecting with nature (keep reading for more outdoor community resources). 

Sustainable baddies may also feel overwhelmed by feelings of climate anxiety. Watching our planet suffer at the hands of man can make us feel helpless — like the problem is too big for an individual to make a difference. Spending time outside with Ms. Earth herself can serve as a reminder that, with our help, she can continue to thrive the way she has since before humans ever learned to exploit. Sustainable baddies who take the time to practice sustainability, consciously produce less waste, consume less, and understand more about how to live in reciprocity with nature make a huge difference in how humanity thinks about ourselves in relation to nature. 

Living in Reciprocity with Nature

 
 


Nature is an essential part of many Indigenous belief systems, which caution that our relationship with nature and the Earth shouldn’t be solely extractive. When you begin to contemplate how your daily life impacts the world outside, you’ll begin to feel more connected to nature and the world around you. Sustainable baddie bible Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer illuminates how nature can improve our mental health and well-being through reciprocity and cultivating a relationship with the natural world. Kimmerer explains how connecting with nature through practices such as ceremony, storytelling, and mindful observation can cultivate a sense of gratitude and connection that can improve our mental well-being. The book highlights how Indigenous wisdom, ecological knowledge, and scientific understanding can intersect to foster a more harmonious and healthier society.

When we acknowledge the value of giving back to the earth, we develop a deeper sense of gratitude and respect for nature. The interconnectedness of the natural world reminds us that we are not alone in our efforts to create a sustainable future. It takes a community to grow and make positive changes, and by working together, we can achieve more than we ever could alone. 

Be More Like Ms. Earth

 
 

Unlike the fast-paced world we live in, nature grows at a slower pace and with a clear purpose. We can learn from this and aim to move at a more intentional pace, focusing on our long-term goals and personal growth rather than forcing ourselves to be perfect at present.

  • To quote Legend of Korra, “Be the Leaf”: Plants and trees sway and dance with the wind, adapting to changes and challenges. We can also learn to be more flexible and resilient, embracing change and finding ways to grow despite adversity.

  • Sit and observe, practice grounding: By taking the time to sit and observe our surroundings, we can ground ourselves and redirect our attention away from our stresses and into nature. This can help reduce stress and anxiety and bring you a sense of calm and peace.

  • Practice gratitude for Earth's gifts: The Earth provides us with so many gifts, from clean air and water to food and shelter. By practicing gratitude for these gifts, we can reframe climate anxiety through the lens of the resilience of our natural world and appreciate that we still have Ms. Earth’s gifts to preserve. 

When we focus too much on our own problems and worries, it can be helpful to remember that there are bigger things at play in the world. Nature can serve as a reminder of this, with its vastness and infinite possibilities. When we struggle with mental health, it can be easy to get caught up in hyper-fixations and negative thought patterns. Nature can offer a break from this, helping us to step back and see the bigger picture. 

Ways to Connect to the Earth 

 
 

  • Find Your Community: There are so many communities you can connect with to make your connection with nature and your emotions feel like less of a solo endeavor:

    • Connect with other Saddie Baddies. Learn more about the Saddie Baddies community from our Sustainable Baddie of the Week, Priscilla O. Agyeman.

    • Hike Clerb: Hike Clerb is an intersectional women’s outdoor collective. Inspired to take action by the lack of representation and participation of people of color in the outdoors, Hike Clerb was born as a radical solution to this inequity.

    • The Hood Hikers: The Hood Hikers is a hiking and outdoor adventure company, based in New York City, that creates a safe space in nature for all Black and Brown folks, regardless of gender, income bracket, and any other divider, to enjoy the outdoors on their terms. 

    • Unlikely Hikers: Unlikely Hikers is a diverse, anti-racist, body-liberating outdoor community featuring underrepresented outdoorspeople.

 
 

  • Take Up An Outdoor Hobby: Even if it’s just opening up your window to let the breeze flow in, these are some ideas that can help you strengthen your relationship with Ms. Earth: 

    • Forest Bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, is the practice of immersing oneself in a forest and mindfully engaging with the surroundings. It has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost immune function

    • Gardening: Start a garden in your backyard or if you don’t have an available outdoor space, adopt a plant! Challenge yourself to care for a green bb. 

    • Hiking: Make your way to your nearest trails or paths and walk through the countryside or mountains (we like to go to our nearest park hehe)

    • Sun Bathing: expose yourself to the sun's rays and boost your Vitamin D levels (or catch a tan). Sunlight triggers the release of serotonin and can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety! 

    • Walking Barefoot: Walking barefoot, or grounding, is the practice of walking barefoot on natural surfaces like grass, sand, or soil to connect with the earth's electrical charge. It has been shown to improve sleep quality and help regulate the body's nervous system.

    • Ocean Swimming: If you find release in being pummeled by waves and swimming against currents, ocean swimming is a beautiful way to safely let go of tension. Please only ocean swim if you are a strong experienced swimmer! Baddies don’t endanger themselves!

    • Just go outside gurl!: Feeling the sun, wind, and ground fully hold you up is one of the easiest ways to feel closer to the Earth.

 
 

Click here for a directory of farm and wildlife sanctuaries around the United States.

Until the day comes when Sustainable Baddie officially opens our self-sufficient woodland village, we leave you with this guide to help you strengthen your relationship with nature and your own mental health. 

Tend to your mental health in the way you would a small seed: only water it with love, softly utter words of affirmation, and watch it slowly grow into exactly what it was meant to be. 

How has nourishing your relationship with nature helped your mental health?

LifeNatasha Lopezmental health, resources, natureComment