Who could have predicted the vast changes and extreme events that have occurred in recent months? In Australia, we have not only had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, but also with drought, bushfires, and floods.

For me, the events in our country and the world have reinforced the importance and healing properties of a nature connection. Nature connection can be defined as an individuals’ interest in, fascination with, and desire for nature contact, a sense of self that includes nature, a broader concept encompassing emotions, experiences, and an understanding of human interconnectedness with all other living things. People’s nature connectedness predicts a sense that life is worthwhile – nearly 4 times larger than the increase associated with higher socioeconomic status.

Benefits for mental health include reduced levels of stress, anxiety and depression, improved attention, memory and cognition, improved life satisfaction and well being.

Pathways to connect with nature include using our senses to fully notice our surroundings. Connecting emotionally by appreciating the beauty and calm of nature and sharing our feelings about nature with others. Finding beauty in nature by taking the time to appreciate it and engaging with it through music, art, or words. Exploring and expressing how nature brings meaning to life. Spending time exploring how nature appears in songs, stories, music, and art. Noticing and celebrating the signs and cycles of nature. Creating compassion around nature, thinking about what we can do for nature by caring for the environment, creating homes for wildlife, supporting conservation charities, and rethinking our shopping habits. How do you connect with nature?

The main ways I connect with nature are by going for walks in local bushland on my own, with family and friends. Taking time to use my senses to notice the sights, listen to birdsong and wind, feel the bark of trees and touch leaves and notice fragrances. I also enhance my nature connection by taking photographs of nature, looking at the horizon noticing distant mountain or water views and gazing at the sky and noticing clouds. This brings a sense of awe and appreciation of nature and its beauty. I also connect with nature through my feelings of compassion and care for nature. I work on recycling my food waste using a worm farm and compost bin. I use gardening to connect with nature by growing herbs, veggies, fruit, and flowers. I also use indoor plants and cut flowers to bring nature into my home.

There are ways you can bring nature to you, wherever you live. This can be as simple as opening a window and breathing in the air, taking a walk, listening to the sounds of birds and other nature sounds, grounding activities such as walking barefoot on grass, touching natural objects such as the bark of a tree, rocks or plants. Bringing some plants, flowers, rocks, or shells indoors or having calming nature images on your walls helps to bring nature into your home. In this time of isolation and with more people working and schooling from home, anything that calms your mind and body is a worthwhile pursuit.

I have noticed an increase in people connecting with nature, hiking on local bush trails. My hope is that this trend will continue as people appreciate the positives associated with a nature connection.

Some of the ideas about a nature connection come from a recent webinar entitled:

Practical nature connection strategies for well being when working from home

Leah Hague BPsychSc(Hons I) Assoc MAPS

Organisational Psychology PhD Candidate

The link below has some useful ideas:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-things-we-can-do-benefit-from-nature-leah-hague

The healing power of a nature connection