HEALTHY MIND
NATURE WALKS FOR A HEALTHY MIND
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By Kristy Podruchny
ature’s power and the health benefits that come with walking creates a recipe for a happy and healthy mind. The National Council on Aging reports that 1 in 4 older adults experience depression, anxiety, and/or dementia. Walks in nature pull us out of our own minds and into the living world. We become present in the moment and operate at nature’s pace—this is crucial in our fast-paced society. When we take time to watch a drop of rain on a rose petal or an ant climbing a branch, we slow life down for a few minutes. Rumination and urbanization have both been linked to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. A 2015 study published in PNAS found that a 90-minute walk in nature decreased rumination and activity in the brain linked to mental illness.
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Participants who walked the same amount of time in an urban environment didn’t have the same results. Walks in nature can triumph over urban strolls. Another study conducted by the University of Michigan showed that participants had a 20 percent increase in short term memory and attention scores after walks in nature; but no increase after walks in the city. Even viewing pictures or videos of nature has the power to increase memory and attention. Nature also inspires awe. This feeling can come from watching a spectacular sunset or witnessing the grandeur of a bird gliding over treetops in the mountains. Awe offers the human brain more than a temporary rush of endorphins. It helps us feel more connected with the world and each other.
A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology notes that awe diminishes a sense of self, and helps us become aware of ourselves as part of a larger picture. This has the potential to make us more generous, grateful, charitable and improve our overall happiness. Our brains thrive when we have a sense of community— this becomes critical as we get older. Nature walks can also bring some much-needed social time into your life. Human connection is another ingredient in the recipe for health and happiness. Think about joining or forming a hiking group for seniors. Going out birding or on a foraging adventure are great excuses to get out in nature and make new friends.
