Within moments of beginning my walk around the grounds of the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley this morning, I began to experience that wonderful feeling of peace and calmness that washes over me me when I’m out in nature. Whenever I begin to feel stressed, overwhelmed, quick to anger, or anxious, I’ve learned the best thing for me to do is head outside. It doesn’t really matter what I do there. It could be a hike in nature, a walk around my neighborhood, photographing flowers at a botanic garden, doing a bit of yard work, or simply staring out the back window, watching the birds at our feeder. Science is finally beginning to back up what I’ve always known… that time in nature improves mental health. Studies have found that…
- spending time in nature increases happiness.
- walking in nature fights depression.
- time in nature improves the ability to concentrate.
- exposure to nature gives people a heightened sense of well-being.
Can’t get out for a walk? It’s also been found that simply having a window in your home with a view of nature decreases stress and improves mental health.
Need more proof? Check out some of these articles…
- Restoring Peace (Richard Louv, Psychology Today)
- The Psychology of Nature (Johan Lehrer, Wired Magazine)
- Getting Back to the Great Outdoors (American Psychological Association)
- Spending Time in Nature Makes People Feel More Alive, Study Shows (Science Daily)
- Going Green Benefits Physical, Mental Health (Nick Nauert PhD, Psych Central)
- Benefits of Ecotherapy: Being in Nature Fights Depression, Improves Mental Health and Well Being (Lesia Bushak, Medical Daily)
Photo taken January 4th, 2014
UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
hike.wander.wonder 
It is so enjoyable to get out for a walk and get out of one’s head when the four walls seem to hem in the worrying thoughts. I am not surprised that science is now explaining how nature can be so restorative for us.
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Yes, whenever I need to clear my mind, the first thing I do is head out for a walk. I haven’t found anything that works better, though playing the piano is a close second for me.
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Wow! That was a beautiful post. Enjoying nature is really important. I really loved this post!!
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Aw, thank you. 💕
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Escaping to nature from your boring life can make us happier than ever. The way you explained whole blog is inspiring. Thank for such a wonderful blog.
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Thank you, Aman. 😃
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Linda, what a beautiful post to share! When ever I’m feeling down I love to go outside and explore the nature around me. It is one of the most uplifting feelings to feel the sun on your skin. It really does wonders for depression and just over all feeling under the weather.
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I’m excited to find your blog as I am just working on a new nature program for our preschool called Forest Fridays. I will be visiting again soon.
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Yes!! We are 317 days into our 365 day outside challenge (365Outside Challenge) and have noticed such a change in mood and stress levels since committing to spending time outside every single day of the year, regardless of weather. It’s also been linked to faster recovery times after illness or surgery!
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Awesome! Enjoy your time outdoors, and hope you continue into 2016 and beyond. 🙂
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Quite agree, walk and feel the nature—it’s so sweatily energizing 🙂
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That is so true. Any time spent outside is a de-stresser if we make an effort to observe and actually really see. Even a quick run in the rain. It’s exhilarating.
Alexa-asimplelife blogging from a grey and soggy Sydney, Australia…it is meant to be SUMMER!
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Couldn’t agree more! A walk and taking a bath are my 2 main de-stressors 😊 Beautiful photo.
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Swimming is another destresser for me. There’s something magical about water. 🙂
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So true! I’m a mom as well and anytime I’m stressed, I return to Nature and feel better 🙂
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🙂
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Thanks for visiting my blog. You have such a beautiful happy blog; Sunshine for my day.
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Oh, thank you so much! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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Want to be Happier? Take a Walk in Nature
Agree and agree. Not only happier, calmer, peaceful and positive as well. As you can see in my about me page, I love hiking and taking long walks in the nature. I see to it that I have my 10,000 steps each day even if I have to go out there in the middle of the night or in the pouring rain.
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Yes, so much more than just happiness can be found through walking.. I also feel the benefits you mention… feeling calmer, more peaceful, and more positive, plus all the good stuff walking does for our physical bodies!
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indeed!
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So true, right from the title of the post 🙂
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It works for me!
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My workplace is on a lake and I go for walks when I’m having trouble focusing. it helps a lot, and combats the fact I’m staring at a screen for 9+ hours a day.
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We’ve nominated you for an award! Please visit: http://juliannevictoria.com/2014/01/26/4-blogs-8-awards-and-26-nominations/
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I’m loving all the visual changes to your blog. Nicely done!
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Thanks! I’m continuing to work on it. And, by the way, I enjoyed your post today. I LOVE the idea of a neighborhood book lending library. I’ve contemplated the idea since I first read of the concept a year or two ago, but I just don’t see how I could pull it off in our HOA-ruled townhome development.
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It’s fun making changes and improvements as we go along. I’m on my third theme since starting. It keeps it interesting for me. It’s amazing how varied the themes are and how you can adapt then to fit your needs.
Sorry to hear about the HOA rules. I hear that complaint from many people and have experienced it myself when renting.
Perhaps there is a library nearby that you could support. They are growing by leaps and bounds.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Loved this post. Hubbie went to UC Berkeley for PhD over 20 years ago and I STILL miss the Bay area!! Nature and painting are great stress relievers for me.
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Thank you, Anita! Berkeley is a wonderful place!!
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You are not telling me I have not known for years (yes I know that is a double negative). Nature has sustained me thru 2 divorces and my mother’s death. I dread the day when I will not be able to be outside, but hope that I will always have a window to look thru at the garden and see the flowers and the birds. They are so calming and restoring.
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I completely agree! 🙂
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Figured you would! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Outdoor Living in New England and commented:
On an icy winter day, we are connecting with visitors to the bird feeder outside the kitchen window today.
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Ah yes, i wholeheartedly agree with this. The best way to calm my sometimes chaotic and overflowing mind is to just wander outside, breath in deeply the fresh air and see, really see, what’s around us. There is so much beauty to be found, so much wonders to experience. If we just take the time to really look and feel.
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Well said, Karin. My mind tends to overflow, too.. Being in nature brings me into the here and now, giving my mind focus and calm.
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So simple and so true!
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🙂
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Lovely post and beautiful photo, Linda – isn’t it good to recognise and know that you have that escape mechanism when you need it? Over the last 3 or 4 years I’ve been taking more and more photos, and capturing all the wonders that nature and the outdoors have to offer is always a sure way to lift my spirits when I’m down. Interestingly, I’ve recently discovered another calming and uplifting mechanism which is really working for me – Zentangling. (Just in case you haven’t heard of it, here’s a definition from the official Zentangle website (http://www.zentangle.com/): “The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.”) I’ve always said – and still do – that I can’t draw, but the great thing about Zentangling is that you don’t have to be able to! I find it really relaxing at the end of the day, and it refreshes my creative spirit and soul beautifully. I’m definitely an advocate for it 🙂
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Thank you! I have never heard of Zentagling. I just did some research on it, and it looks like something I’d love. Thanks!
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Reblogged this on Diary of Dennis.
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Restoring Peace link works for me
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Ok then it is on my side. Can´t load the page.
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I tested it again. It’s working for me, too.
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I sign that 🙂 Sometimes we need to go out of the city. All the stress with all the tasks, the noise, the velocity of modern life, too much technology all around us… sometimes we must get the head free and the nature is the right place to achieve that.
Oh and btw… the “Restoring Peace” link seems not to work at least on my side. You might check that out.
I also would like to ask if I can reblog your article. Greetings.
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Nature is the perfect antidote for the stress of city life. And, yes, you may reblog. 🙂 Thanks!
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Very true. Ok thank you 🙂
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Nature always makes me happy – can’t imagine not having it.
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Yes, I’d be lost without it. I’d be a total mess!
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I know what you mean, I love to be out walking in nature.
I also have all of my apt windows that face green grass except in the harsh winter months.
I do have trees to look at as well.
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We, too, have all our bedroom windows facing a nature space. We’re considering moving, and my biggest fear is losing a view of nature. When my son becomes upset over something, he calms himself by running up to his room and staring out the window at the oak trees and birds.
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