Nature Therapy: How the Outdoors Can Instantly Boost Your Mood

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Do you sometimes feel exhausted and worn out from the numerous tasks and challenges that surround you? You aren’t alone. In our modern society, it is not hard to get caught up in the daily routine and forget one of the simplest yet most effective ways of relieving stress and gaining mental focus - taking a walk outside.

This year, I promised myself that I would spend more time outside. When outdoors, I always feel more at ease; my mind is clear and my stress seems to just melt away. As I created my vision board for 2025 back in December (2024), I added the goal of spending more time in nature. When I look back, as an adult, on how much I used to spend time outside, especially as a farm kid, I feel guilty about the lack of effort I have made these last couple of years. I mean, adult life presents its challenges, but I need to stop making excuses for why I am not soaking up the sun more often, and you should too. Before we delve into how to spend more time outside, let's tale a look at the 'why'.

How Nature Relieves Stress

Stress is a part of life and how we deal with it is what matters most. Research has revealed that nature contact reduces the level of cortisol in the body (Bratman et al., 2019). Green space can help decrease stress hormones in the body and improve feelings of calmness and well-being in as little as twenty to thirty minutes (Hunter, Gillespie, & Chen, 2019).

If you tend to get overwhelmed often, then you should try out a little routine that involves being outdoors. Taking a morning walk, taking an afternoon stroll in the park, or even sitting outside with tea can help the nervous system reset.

Nature and Mental Clarity: The Science of a Clear Mind

Have you ever noticed that some of your best ideas come to you when you are on a walk or when you are looking at the ocean? This is because the natural environment enhances brain function and creativity. According to Strayer et al. (2012), those who spent four days in a natural environment showed a 50% increase in their creative problem-solving skills.

Mindfulness is a state of being aware of the present moment, and nature helps people to achieve this awareness. The sounds and sights of nature; the leaves, the birds, and the wind on the skin help the mind to move from the stresses of everyday life and to a state of peace. If you are experiencing decision fatigue, brain fog, or just plain mental exhaustion, then make it a practice to take a step outside and reboot. Your mind will appreciate this.

The Mood-Boosting Power of the Outdoors

Being in nature does more than reduce stress and improve focus; it also improves mood and fights depression. Melrose (2015) pointed out that sunlight triggers the body to release serotonin, a chemical that helps people feel happier and better.

Berman et al. (2012) have also found that green space is associated with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. If you are feeling down at times, then try taking it outside. From writing under a tree to running on a nature trail, or even just breathing in fresh air, outdoor activities can help improve your mood naturally.

How to Make Nature a Daily Habit

If you are trying to find ways to include more outdoor time into your daily schedule then begin with small changes. Here are a few easy ways to make nature a part of your daily routine:

• Morning walks – It is possible to improve your mood and have a better start of the day with just 10 minutes of walking outside.

  
  

• Outdoor workouts – Replace the gym with a trail run, a park yoga class, or even a bike ride.

  
  

• Lunch breaks outside – Instead of eating at your desk, try to take your lunch outside and do some mental cleanup.

  
  

• Gardening or houseplants – If you can’t get outside, bring nature indoors with plants.

  
  

• Weekend nature escapes – Committed to adding a park, forest, or beach to your list of destinations on your free days.

If you are in the market for some assistance to help you maintain your routine then you might want to try a guided mindfulness journal or a portable hammock for relaxing outdoors. A simple UV protection hat or hydration bottle can increase the pleasure of being outdoors.

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How to Find Outdoor Activities, Hiking Groups, and Trails Near You

So, now you know why spending time outside is good for you, in more ways than one, but how can you do it without losing excitement, momentum, or courage? Well, here is a step-by-step guide to discovering nearby outdoor activities together with hiking clubs and trails. If you want to spend your free time outdoors but you lack information about nearby trails or walking groups, then you don’t have reason to worry because modern technology provides you with several resources that can assist you in your search.

1. AllTrails (Website & App)

Best for: Hiking and walking trails information

Among the numerous apps available today AllTrails stands out as one of the best when it comes to discovering trails for hiking and walking as well as for biking. You can search the trail according to area, difficulty, length, and even some additional features such as waterfalls or paths that are accessible to dogs. User reviews, trail maps and GPS tracking are other features of the app that will help you navigation.

2. Meetup (Website & App)

Best for: Getting involved in local hiking and outdoor activities

Meetup is great for finding hiking clubs, outdoor fitness groups, or just walking groups of people. A simple search on the application is as simple as typing in the name of your location and then using keywords such as ‘hiking,’ ‘outdoor adventures’ or ‘nature walks.’ This is ideal for people who are interested in meeting new people who share similar interests with them.

3. Hiking Project (Website & App)

Best for: A wealth of information on hiking routes including maps and information from experts.

Hiking Project is a Hiking Project is a great resource that offers a vast collection of trails in North America with information such as descriptions, elevation information and ratings from other hikers. If you are in the process of finding the best hiking trails in your area or trying to find new trails to try, this application can be very useful.

4. Outdoor Project (Website)

Best for: More outdoor activities than just hiking

However, Outdoor Project is useful for those who are interested in other outdoor activities, such as camping, kayaking, rock climbing, and so on, in addition to hiking. It is useful for those who are interested in nature but are not limited to walking or hiking.

5. GoWild (Website & App)

Best for: For the outdoor enthusiast, it serves as a social network site

On the GoWild app, people post information on the various hiking trips they have been on, the fishing they have done, and other outdoor activities they have engaged in. In a way, it’s like a social network site for people who love the outdoors and can be very useful for getting ideas as well as meeting like-minded people.

6. Parks & Recreation

Websites of the Local Area Local park directories and community outdoor programs can usually be found on government-issued websites of cities and counties. It may be helpful to type in "[Your City] hiking trails" or "[Your City] outdoor clubs" to bring up what is available close by.

7. Facebook Groups & Reddit Communities

If you are in the mood for more relaxed groups then turn to: Facebook: Try to find groups of hiking or outdoor activities in your location (for instance, ‘Hiking Enthusiasts of [Your City]’). Reddit: Some popular subreddits include r/hiking, r/backpacking, or even subreddits related to specific cities, which can provide information on group hikes and trail recommendations.

8. The Outbound Collective (Website & App)

Best for: For those who want to try something new in the outdoors, such as hiking or camping.

The Outbound Collective is a one-stop guide to hiking, camping and other adventure sports. It provides guiding information for travel, group activities, and even locations for camping if you need to spend more time outdoors.

Final Thoughts: Step Outside for Your Mind and Soul

Nature is one of the most simple and effective solutions for people’s mental health that is often not given the consideration it deserves. No matter what issue you are experiencing, from stress to distraction or just plain old feelings of being off, the great outdoors is calling. So, go ahead—step outside, take a deep breath, and let nature work its magic.

Your mind will feel lighter, your stress will fade, and clarity will return.

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References

Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207-1212.

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2019). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567-8572.

Hunter, M. R., Gillespie, B. W., & Chen, S. Y. (2019). Urban nature experiences reduce stress in the context of daily life based on salivary biomarkers. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 722.

Melrose, S. (2015). Seasonal affective disorder: An overview of assessment and treatment approaches. Depression Research and Treatment, 2015, 1-6.

Strayer, D. L., Atchley, R. A., & Atchley, P. (2012). Creativity in the wild: Improving creative reasoning through immersion in natural settings. PloS One, 7(12), e51474.