The nourishing power of getting outside
When I was a young girl in suburban New Jersey I used to peer out my bedroom window during the day for what seemed like hours at a time, wanting desperately to play in the grass and frolic under the blue sky. When I was around 9 years old my mom finally allowed me to play outside with the other kids in the neighborhood, which relieved me of my unofficial duties of watching my younger siblings. More than 50 years later I can still feel the simple joys of playing with dolls and games outside on the front lawn, kickball in the streets, and exploring the small woods behind our home including a rope swing some older kids had installed.
Getting outside and playing with my neighbors was my escape from the caretaking responsibilities at home which were incongruent with my psycho-social development. I learned that the green spaces outside were joyous, free and safe; a stark contrast of what was happening inside my family home.
While I understand that right now in 2023 outside green spaces may not be as safe as it was in the 1960’s or as safe as a protected space indoors, much research has shown that green spaces in particular, even for 10 minutes, can have a positive effect on our mood and wellness. A multi disciplinary team at Cornell University in 2020 found that college students felt happier and less stress after spending as little as 10 minutes outside in a ‘natural setting.’ The authors found that sitting or walking, between 10-50 minutes outside, was the most effective to improve attention, mood and physiological markers like blood pressure and heart rate.
At the Cochrane Library (“a collection of databases that contain high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making”) I found over 100 research trials that were conducted on the connection between the outdoors and mental and physical wellness. The sheer number of research in this area tells us there are positive outcomes when considering many variables such as different age groups, outdoor settings, and activities.
For us, here in a partially urban setting within Austin, Texas, getting outside to nourish our sense of sound, feel, smell, sight and taste can be as easy as walking out a door or getting into a car for a 10 minute ride to a local park. Though ‘easy’ might not be the right word.
In theory, walking out the front or back door or getting into a car for a 10 minute drive is ‘easy’. However, thoughts like “I don’t have time”, “I just want to zone out on Tik Tok” or “I’ll do it later” can stop us from doing the easy thing. Through mindful awareness we can be aware of these thoughts and, if we have the capacity in that moment, we can acknowledge the thoughts but continue forward, knowing the outside holds nourishment that is good for us.
The great outdoors can nourish all of our senses. The sounds of birds, breezes rustling through trees or even the competing sounds of birds, breezes and vehicles can bathe our audio senses, sending signals of safety (unconsciously) to our nervous systems. The smells of flowers or grass, the visuals of colorful blossoms, the feel of the sun on our skin and even the taste of the spring air can enliven all of our senses, letting our bodies know that we are safely connected to our natural surrounding.
If you are looking to improve your mood, de-stress or enjoy some non-screen down time, push aside any thoughts that keep you inside and break through to get outside. The more your break through the thoughts that keep you inside, the easier it will get as your body will crave the pleasant sensory experiences that awaits you … outside.