With the constant input of stressful news and world events, managing your mental health can feel like a challenge. You may feel a sense of dread about the state of global politics, stress about rising costs on food and fuel, and anxiety surrounding getting back to the office after a long absence. One effective, simple way to manage these feelings and boost your mental health is to seek green spaces. Nearby hiking trails, local parks, and even indoor gardens can help you foster more positive feelings and improve your mood. If you don’t live in a place where outdoor green spaces are easily accessible, surrounding yourself with indoor plants can provide some similar benefits.
Connection to Nature
Being in nature has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood disorders, and there are a few reasons why. First, green spaces help remove us from our sense of self. Taking in a natural environment and paying attention to the sights, smells, and sounds of other living things around us can help relieve our own patterns of self-judgment and stressful thoughts. Green spaces also rekindle our connection to nature while encouraging movement and positivity.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Natural spaces also offer physical health benefits that can positively affect mood. For example, plants are natural air filters that help to improve air quality, even indoors. Along with a literal breath of fresh air, green spaces can also encourage a refresh in our mental state to inspire creativity and increase our attention capacity.
While seeking nature can be beneficial for your mental health, it’s also helpful to seek professional care and guidance to address issues like mood disorders. MeMD makes it easy to access a mental health professional from the comfort of home with our teletherapy services.
