Nature has enormous emotional and cognitive benefits on people “including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation,” according to the American Psychological Association. Here are five small steps you can take to get closer to nature:
Think of time in nature as a “multivitamin” – it’s best to take it every day
Getting your daily dose of nature is vital to your well-being, says Ming Kuo, who runs the Landscape and Human Health Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- Nature helps our mental muscles relax and recover, and our immune systems need it, too.
Learn about the origins of “our” outdoors and celebrate Indigenous history
Before the 1964 Civil Rights Act, most people of color were denied access to or segregated at state and national parks.
- Learn about which tribes are local to you and the Indigenous place names in your area for streams, for mountains, for parks.
Find your people
Find a crew who enjoys the same activities you do
- This helps you stay safe in more remote areas
- Unlikely Hikers is a hiking group for people of color, plus-size and fat, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, disabled, non-binary, and neurodivergent
Bring the outdoors into your world
You don’t have to be outdoors to experience nature’s wonder.
- Enjoy natural scents with an aromatherapy diffuser or open a window to get some fresh air. Enjoy a game like #FindThatLizard on Twitter and Instagram to see a camouflaged lizard in its natural environment.
