Have you found that when you spend time in nature you feel refreshed and a renewed sense of well-being? I can definitely feel the health benefits of nature.

So I was not surprised that a research study published in the United Kingdom found that for “people suffering from physical illness or mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, interacting with nature can help people control their symptoms or even recover, alongside conventional medication.”

The study on the health benefits of nature also found that feeling a part of nature has been shown to significantly correlate with life satisfaction, meaningfulness, happiness, and lower cognitive anxiety. I hope you feel the researched benefits of getting outside for some fresh air.

• I have noticed that breathing in fresh air for a few minutes in the morning dramatically enhances and stabilizes my mood for the day.
• If I’m having a “good day” with minimal vertigo symptoms, I like to exercise outside but I often bring my cane or a walking stick for balance on uneven surfaces and hiking trails.
• If I’m having a “bad day,” just sitting quietly in the freshness of the outdoors soothes me and relaxes me.

I am always amazed when I see the plants in my yard with a new flower bloom or my avocado tree growing a new branch. Observing nature reminds me that things are constantly changing, so it helps me not to get mentally stuck. This just comes to show me all the health benefits of nature.

Fall is the perfect time to get out so let’s take advantage of the health benefits of nature and experience all of the beauty that nature has to offer. Sometimes I take a rest on a solid boulder or a fallen log, noticing the drops of dew on nearby plants and stones. The birds chirping and the squirrels gathering nuts for the winter help me expand my view to witness the bigger picture and the cyclical nature of life.