The Importance of Connecting with Nature in the Digital Age

In the era of urbanisation, people are growing increasingly physically and emotionally distant from nature, with an ever expanding majority of the world’s population living in cities. While city life has its perks, there is a growing body of research and an emerging field of ‘ecopsychology’ suggesting that our disconnect from nature is hindering mental health. Congruous with this is the fact that people living in cities are significantly more likely to suffer from mental health conditions like depression (Mechelli, 2020).

According to the biophilia hypothesis, humans are evolutionarily hardwired to yearn for connection with nature. Having evolved within it and relied on it for our survival throughout history, our brains remain attached to nature and suffer from the 21st century disconnection from it. While the ins and outs of the exact evolutionary explanation for this are still debated, it’s clear that humans have an undeniable emotional attachment to nature. 

In the midst of the ongoing mental health crisis and the rise of climate-related mental health conditions like ‘eco-anxiety’, now appears to be a perfect time to explore the benefits of spending time in nature. This is especially true considering that connecting with nature can be mutually beneficial for both mental health and the planet’s health - the importance of which cannot be overstated given the current context of global warming. As applied ecology expert Robert Dunn explains, the more we interact with nature, the more we care about preserving it, referring to experience in nature as a ‘prerequisite’ for environmental action. Empirical evidence supports this, showing that not only does connecting with nature improve wellbeing, but it increases pro-environmental behaviour (DeVille et al, 2021; Martin et al, 2020). Crucially, these studies also reveal this relationship remains regardless of whether nature is being experienced physically or virtually. Nature and technology are too frequently placed in opposition, creating a false dichotomy between the two that can ultimately deter environmental care. In reality, these two integral parts of our lives are not incompatible, and in fact can be used in conjunction to improve mental and environmental wellbeing. 

How does connecting with nature improve mental well-being?

1 - Reduces stress

Exposure to nature reduces stress and relieves its physiological symptoms such as high blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormone levels (Chatterjee, 2022). A recent study which had participants go for a walk either in nature or through city streets, found that those who walked in nature were less stressed when completing stress-inducing tasks, and had less amygdala activation in response to fearful stimuli (Sudimac et al, 2022). Similar results have also been found in people walking in urban nature settings or simply watching nature-based relaxation videos (Hunter et al, 2019; Benz et al, 2022). 

2 - Alleviates symptoms of depression and anxiety

You have probably heard people give cliché advice regarding going outside for a walk in nature as a response to low mood or times of stress. Whilst of course a short walk is not a panacea to mental health problems, there is no proverbial smoke without fire.  

Studies show that after spending time in nature, we experience a reduction in anxiety, negative emotions, and rumination - a key contributor to depression (Bratman et al, 2015). This is further backed by neurological observations that reveal increased activity in parts of the brain whose inactivity is linked to mood disorders. As well as this, when we connect with nature we produce more endorphins and dopamine - the famous ‘happy hormones’ (Marselle et al, 2014). 

Nature’s impact on mood is so profound that it has been employed in the treatment of mental health conditions in the form of ‘ecotherapy’. This accessible and affordable treatment option has not only been clinically validated to improve mental health, but it also crucially highlights an often-forgotten emotional ecosystem service that nature provides us, which could help incentivise conservation efforts (Bratman, 2019).

3 - Improves cognitive function

Many urbanites neglect self-care such as spending time in nature because of their heavy workload and busy schedules. However, taking the time out of your day to connect with nature can actually help you get more done in the long-term by enhancing productivity. 

Attention restoration theory postulates that natural stimuli innately intrigue us and induces a type of attention that requires less cognitive effort than the kind we use in our everyday tasks, thus resting and replenishing this cognitive function for future use (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989). This theory is corroborated by research that shows a clear association between time in nature and long-term improvement of cognitive functions like concentration, working memory, and self-control. In fact, nature exposure is even being used to help reduce symptoms in those with ADHD (CHADD, 2017).

How to connect with nature - wherever you are

Given the aforementioned proportion of us living in cities, it is important to note that we don’t need access to vast wilderness in order to reap the benefits of nature. Nature can be found dotted around even the busiest of cities, and evidence shows that people actually enjoy nature that has a human imprint - removing any undue pressure to find a pristine landscape (Weinberger et al, 2021). Finding nature in the city can also be made easier with apps like London’s TreeTalk which identifies urban nature in your area and generates green walking routes for you. 

Better yet, you can contribute to conservation efforts on your walks through apps such as iNaturalist, which allows you to record and learn about the species you encounter on your walks, while providing valuable data on biodiversity to scientists. This not only promotes experiencing nature but also really engaging and connecting with it. Perceived nature connectedness has been shown to have powerful influence over environmental perceptions and is linked to better outcomes for mental wellbeing and environmental conscientiousness (Berto et al, 2018). 

Contrary to stereotypes about screens being an antithesis to nature, it is clear that technology can be a valuable tool to enhance our connection with nature and promote healthy experiences. Given that people are spending significantly more time on screens than in nature, integrating the two may be the best way to bring nature into people’s lives. While just having nature apps on your phone can serve as a reminder to get outside, there are also apps which can connect you to nature from the comfort of your home. This can be especially helpful for those struggling with mental health conditions such as depression, who would benefit greatly from nature’s psychological effects, but don’t always feel capable of leaving the house. Experiencing nature virtually through watching documentaries or just looking at photos of nature have all been shown to still provide psychological benefits (Yeo et al, 2020; Dockrill, 2016). 

Not only does technology make nature more accessible for personal uses, it also makes helping nature equally as convenient - which breaks down a huge cognitive barrier to environmental action. You can help the environment just through your daily internet use by switching to Ecosia which is a search engine that plants trees for every search you make. Meanwhile, apps like Oroeco help you identify parts of your lifestyle that could be altered to lessen your carbon footprint, and there are myriads of apps that help you make your daily shopping more eco-friendly. Not only does this help the environment, but these simple acts of sustainability also improve your wellbeing by boosting your self-esteem (Venhoeven et al, 2016).

So, whether you choose to start volunteering at a nature reserve nearby, or simply change your lockscreen to a scenic nature photo, it is well worth considering making nature a bigger part of your everyday life - for your sake and the planet’s.

By Amelia Staples (LinkedIn)

References

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