Nature, Walking, and Mental Wellness

Key takeaways

• Try Winter Walking for Wellness

• 4 Ways Nature Benefits Your Mental Health

• Why Your Mental Health Needs a Spring Break, Too

Try Winter Walking for Wellness

Many people experience the blues this time of year. Winter’s minimal daylight can make it difficult to get outside. Add bone-chilling temps to the mix and finding the motivation to venture outdoors is a real challenge. But taking a brisk stroll on a regular basis is an easy way to cash in on physical and mental health benefits. Give winter walking for wellness a try and turn this chilly season into one of energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment.

Walking is often undervalued as a form of exercise. During any season, this simple, low-impact activity is beneficial to the mind and body. Among other advantages, walking helps to strengthen bones, muscles, and your immune system; improve endurance and cardiovascular fitness; reduce stress; and boost mood, memory, and coordination.

Fall asleep faster and sleep better . Your body temperature decreases during sleep. Going for a winter walk allows your body to cool down faster, making it easier for you to fall and stay asleep. Burn more calories. Colder temps, like the ones we experience in these frigid Minnesota winters, make the body work harder to stay warm. As such, you burn more calories when it’s cold, especially when exercising in cold weather. One study proved that hiking in the cold burns 34% more calories than hiking under regular weather conditions. Be more productive. Research has shown that people are often more focused and make better decisions in cooler temps. So, taking a brisk winter walk can help improve memory, attention, and productivity. Reduce stress by breathing fresh air and soaking up sunlight. Being outdoors – even in the winter – increases endorphins and serotonin levels, which has a calming effect that naturally helps boost your mood.

4 Ways Nature Benefits Your Mental Health

As we head into summer, many of us look for every opportunity to be outdoors and soak up some sunshine. Have you ever noticed how much we all look forward to the summertime, despite the fact that most of us don’t have summers off like we used to as kids? What is it about summer that makes us feel more relaxed, laid back, and ready to explore the great outdoors?

Spending more time outdoors surrounded by nature can significantly influence your general wellbeing. Studies have shown that nature is good for our mental health and that nature and mental health have a fundamental connection. Take a look at the top four ways nature supports your mental health.

Nature & Mental Health Benefits 1.) Mood Boost Being outside in nature with the sounds of birds chirping and the foliage changing green can help calm you and clear your mind. While Surrounded by this type of tranquility, you may slip into a more peaceful mindset, relaxing your body and mind from daily concerns and reconnecting you with the present.

Why Your Mental Health Needs a Spring Break, Too

For many Minnesotans, the warm weather and sunshine often stirs up feelings of renewed hope and energy. Whether it’s taking a half day on Fridays or planning a fishing trip over the weekend, there is something about the longer days that makes us crave a break from reality, so we can finally relax and savor a carefree moment.

In a previous blog post, we discussed the mental health benefits of a staycation and how you don’t have to travel far from home to enjoy a break in routine. In fact, according to an article in Psychology Today , “…a single multi-week vacation is no more refreshing or revitalizing than a couple of days or long weekend at a nearby getaway spot.” The article goes on to argue that it’s actually the anticipation of a break from the norm that creates a positive mood and an “optimistic frame of mind,” rather than distance.

Why is Spring Break Essential to Your Mental Health? Staycations and mini-holidays help you avoid mental “burn out.” And as we all know, burn out and creativity don’t mix well together. By allowing our minds and bodies to unwind, relax, and create some distance from the daily stress of scheduling, entertaining, and maintaining close attention to details, we’re able to reset our state of mind. And if we allow ourselves this experience, we may even discover some new inspiration along the way, which will benefit us both personally and professionally. According to Forbes , having new experiences and meeting new people helps rewire our brains to learn new things, which helps boost our confidence and creativity. Of course, as mentioned before, this can all be achieved by visiting some attractions and venues in your local area, such as nearby museums, beaches, hiking trails, restaurants, and more!

When to reach out

If symptoms are affecting relationships, work, school, sleep, or daily routines, professional support can help you sort through what is happening and choose a realistic next step.

MHCS provides therapy and mental health support for individuals, couples, families, teens, and adults.