Hundreds of studies support the value of being in nature in a variety of domains.

There are several psychological theories behind why natural spaces are essential for our minds and bodies.

Deliberate, mindful engagement with nature is the most effective way to practice 'nature noticing.'

Humans have valued nature's importance for health and well-being for centuries in a variety of ancient traditions, but empirical research supporting its psychological and physiological benefits has only emerged in recent decades.

While we know that the natural world offers us opportunities for beautiful scenery and possible vacation destinations, the notion of nature as scientifically proven to be healing and restorative is less well known.

The landmark study demonstrating the connection between exposure to nature and health recovery was led by Dr. Roger Ulrich in 1984.1 He found that patients in a hospital recovering from surgery did better if they had a window overlooking green space. The patients whose window faced a brick wall used more pain medication, had longer hospital stays, and had more negative interactions with nurses during the recovery process. This was an amazing discovery.

Around that same time in the early 1980s, the concept of Forest Bathing (“shinrin-yoku”) was being introduced in Japan; however, the scientific research to support its benefits did not emerge until the early 2000’s2. The studies exploring the benefits of being in nature have continued to be varied, interesting, and expansive – and all continue to support the power of nature.

Since the early 1980s, hundreds of studies have been conducted around the world, and they continue to support the basic conclusion that nature is good for us. Some of the research is correlational (observing patterns between variables that naturally exist), while other research is experimental (variables are controlled, allowing more conclusions about cause-and-effect). There are pros and cons to both approaches, but the results continue to show the value of spending time outdoors for our mental and physical health.

Creativity and ingenuity abound in the nature research, with scientists utilizing a variety of measures, from surveys to spit, blood to behaviors, heart rate monitors to headsets (such as a mobile Electroencephalography or EEG headset to measure brainwave activity). Results consistently support the natural world as providing opportunities for regeneration, resilience, renewal, and repair3.

Many Downstream Benefits

As the research on the benefits of connecting with nature expands, it becomes increasingly difficult to adequately capture all of the advantages; however, offered here are three examples in the domains of physical, psychological, and cognitive.

The impact of nature on physical health was one of the earliest domains to be studied. Physical health benefits often include decreased blood pressure, lower heart rate, reduced adrenaline, increased parasympathetic/relaxation system activation, and improved immune........

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