Incorporating nature into your routine is a simple and accessible way to take care of your mental health.
Between a hectic pace of life and constant hyperconnection, it can be difficult to find a moment to breathe. However, a simple and accessible remedy is within our reach: nature. In addition to reducing stress, it improves mood and helps reconnect with what is essential.
Make nature a daily habit
No need to travel miles to feel the benefits of nature: even small daily doses are enough. A walk in a park, a few minutes watching the clouds or touching the leaves of a tree can significantly reduce stress hormones.
A Japanese practice called “forest bathing”, or “silvotherapy”, involves walking slowly through a wooded environment while paying attention to sounds, smells and light. Taking this moment of mindfulness provides a needed break from busy days.
Create a green space at home
If going out is not always possible, studies show that creating a corner of greenery in your home or on your balcony, with easy-to-maintain plants, improves mood and reduces anxiety.
You can also combine this space with relaxing activities like meditation, reading, or even writing a journal. It is also possible to add aromatic plants such as basil or lavender to stimulate the senses and further soothe.
Plan regular time in nature
Beyond small daily gestures, regularly treating yourself to escapades in larger natural environments, such as a forest, a mountain or a beach, helps you fully disconnect from everyday life and stimulate your five senses.
Additionally, exposure to natural light stimulates the production of serotonin, an important hormone for well-being. The ideal is to try to reserve one day a month for an outdoor outing, alone or accompanied, leaving your phone aside for total immersion.
Find out more: “The Little Book of Sylvotherapy” by Gilles Diederichs.
