As another spring arrives this year, many may find themselves with a little more spring in their step. The tulips are waking up, the birds are chirping, and the days are getting longer. Despite the bustle of modern life, with long workdays spent indoors for most, it is striking that our rhythms and moods are still so closely tied to the natural world around us.
As a psychiatrist in training, I see this idea manifest often in practice. For example, it is no surprise when the patient who has struggled with depression starts to feel better when they implement a daily walk in the morning sunlight. Our eyes and brains are primed to take in morning light for a healthy reset of our circadian rhythm each day (1). As another example, I have seen patients with anxiety feel more at ease when scheduling time outside each day after work. Large studies have shown lower stress hormones in humans after periods of time spent outdoors (2).
Humans are wired to be not only observers of nature but also participants in it! It would be tough to optimize mental well-being if we spent all our time within four walls. One does not have to be “outdoorsy” for a regular dose of time outside. Daily intentionality, such as taking a neighborhood walk during a phone call or eating dinner on the porch, may be enough for a refreshing mental reset. Time outside is an important, and often fun, tool in everyone’s mental health toolbox.
1. Shirani A, St. Louis EK. Illuminating Rationale and Uses for Light Therapy. J Clin Sleep Med JCSM Off Publ Am Acad Sleep Med. 2009 Apr 15;5(2):155–63. PubMed PMID: 19968050; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2670336.
2. Hunter MR, Gillespie BW, Chen SYP. Urban Nature Experiences Reduce Stress in the Context of Daily Life Based on Salivary Biomarkers. Front Psychol. 2019 Apr 4;10:722. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00722 PubMed PMID: 31019479; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6458297.