Start feeling more grounded—in just a few minutes a day.
Download the free 7-Day Nature Reconnection Guide and begin gently regulating your nervous system through simple, research-informed practices—no forest required.
We respect your space.
No spam. No noise. Just occasional, grounding emails with reflections, practices, and seasonal insights. Unsubscribe anytime—no hard feelings.
Start feeling more grounded—in just a few minutes a day.
Download the free 7-Day Nature Reconnection Guide and begin gently regulating your nervous system through simple, research-informed practices—no forest required.
We respect your space.
No spam. No noise. Just occasional, grounding emails with reflections, practices, and seasonal insights. Unsubscribe anytime—no hard feelings.
Nature and Mental Health Benefits: Why We Need More Time in Green Spaces
Mae Whitburn
- May 21, 2025
Each morning, I lace up my shoes (or not, some days) and walk toward the trees. The rustling of leaves underfoot, the quiet hush of the wind through the branches, and the occasional chorus of birdsong have become my daily companions. Over time, I've come to realise that what began as a simple habit has transformed into something deeper: a lifeline. And science agrees. The nature and mental health benefits I've felt personally are also strongly supported by an expanding body of research.
The Protective Effects of Nature
Well-being outcomes are influenced by a number of factors, but access to green spaces has repeatedly been shown to be one of the most reliable and Protective effects for mental health. Whether it’s a morning stroll through nearby nature or simply sitting in a natural environment, the positive effects of exposure to green spaces are consistent across primary studies, cross-sectional observational studies, and narrative reviews.
Spending time in nature can reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and promote positive emotions. This isn’t just anecdotal. In fact, assessment of health and metrics of neighborhood nature have shown that individuals living near public greenspaces experience lower rates of mental health difficulties. These wellbeing benefits extend across various sociodemographic factors, from the level of education to geographic location.
Exposure to Nature Can Improve Cognitive Function
As someone who has experienced mental fatigue and the grind of constant digital engagement, I’ve found the cognitive benefits of nature to be transformative. Studies grounded in attention restoration theory suggest that exposure to nature can restore our ability to concentrate and process information. Indeed, cognitive function and memory performance are markedly enhanced following even short-term exposure to natural settings.
Virtual nature interventions have demonstrated some positive outcomes, particularly when real nature is inaccessible. However, there's a growing understanding that connection to nature may be stronger and more sustainable when it involves direct contact. The benefits from nature contact far exceed what can be achieved through virtual exposure alone.
Understanding the Full Scope of Mental Health Outcomes
Engagement with nature is associated with reduced prevalence of depression, lower incidence of mental disorder, and better overall mental wellbeing. In urban environments, where stress tends to be higher and access to natural spaces is limited, this becomes even more critical.
The Community Health outcomes linked with regular visits to public greenspaces include improved physical activity, which itself plays a role in regulating stress hormones and improving both mental health and physical health. Regular movement in outdoor environments not only benefits the body, but also lifts the spirit.
Nature Connection: A Healing Bond
Developing a connection to nature and a bond with nature has shown to support long-term mental health outcomes. Those who report a strong connection to the natural world tend to experience more frequent positive affect, reduced negative emotions, and a general sense of peace. The beneficial effects of even simple acts — listening to birds, touching tree bark, walking barefoot — are now supported by a robust evidence base.
In adolescence especially, where adolescent populations are facing a rising tide of mental health conditions, consistent interaction with green spaces and blue spaces is a gentle, yet powerful intervention. These nature-based activities are increasingly being recommended by health care professionals, not as a replacement for treatment, but as a critical supplement to it.
Weaving Nature into Our Lives
For many of us, the idea of improving our average health might seem overwhelming. But when we begin to understand the potential benefits of everyday engagement with nature, the path becomes clearer. The quality of nature nearby matters, yes, but so too does our connection with nature, our willingness to make space for it in our daily lives.
The positive association between public greenspace visits and well-being benefits is particularly encouraging. Spending more time in aquatic environments, or exploring the therapeutic calm of blue spaces, can create moments of calm that ripple throughout our day.
The Future of Nature Research
While the current nature research framework is already producing compelling data, future studies are needed to better understand the effects of exposure, especially in different urban settings, and to mitigate potential risk factors and risk of bias in ongoing studies.
Still, the message is clear: exposure to nature can be a low-cost, widely accessible path to better mental health. Let’s not wait for further proof to do what feels right in our bones.
Final Thoughts
As I take my walk again tomorrow, maybe barefoot through dew-covered grass, I know I’m engaging in something sacred. There is magic in these small, consistent acts. A return to the wild parts of ourselves, hidden just beneath the skin. May we all find our way back to the natural settings that restore us.
And may our collective journey toward healing include the simplest, most ancient of remedies: time spent in nature.
About the Author
Mae Whitfern
Mae Whitfern is a writer and mental health educator exploring the meeting place between nervous system science and the natural world. With a background in community health and public education, Mae specialises in making evidence-informed practices feel gentle, grounded, and doable—especially for people navigating stress, burnout, or urban life.
Her work is shaped by lived experience, years in the public sector, and countless walks in local bushland. She believes healing doesn’t require perfect conditions—just a patch of sky, a moment of stillness, and the willingness to begin again.
Mae writes from the edges of Naarm/Melbourne, where she lives with her partner and a scruffy rescue dog
