5 Ways Nature Can Support Your Mental Health

May 7

We talk a lot about the importance of spending time in nature during our retreats. It’s one of the core pillars that Rooted Renewal was founded on. But we don’t just speak about it. We hand-select our retreat locations based on a number of variables; Accessibility to nature being one of those.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we thought it was timely to highlight a few of the key ways that spending time in the great outdoors can support our mental health.

But before we get into things, we thought it was important to call out the fact that nature doesn’t have to mean packing up the van and driving across the country to your favorite National Park. Nature is all around us. We are nature. Where we live is nature. The community park down the street is nature. So keep that in mind the next time you feel the pull to get outside.

#1: Reduces Anxiety

Reflect back on the last time you were outside for an extended period of time. How did you feel? There are various scientific studies out there that highlight the fact that spending time in nature reduces anxiety. In fact, spending just 15-minutes outside can lead to a 12% reduction in feelings of anxiety.

ways nature can support mental health — A view of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range near Taos, New Mexico from our retreat in April 2025.

#2: Improves Memory and Cognition

Being outside for at least 1-hour per day can improve memory in adults by 20%. Talk about a huge return on investment! Personally, some of my fondest memories have been spent outside. It’s no surprise that nature can have a dramatic impact on our brains.

#3: Boosts Mood

Just 10-minutes of sunlight can boost serotonin levels by 17%. This chemical helps with mood and mental clarity. Living in the mountains, I can’t tell you how many times spending a short time outside, whether it was a trail run, hike or bike ride, shifted my mental state.

I’ve noticed that even walking my dog around the block in our neighborhood makes a big difference! The point is that it doesn’t have to be a dramatic effort. It’s the little habits that we form and stick with that make a big impact on our lives.

#4: Reduces Mental Fatigue

With daily distractions being at an all time high today, we’re often left feeling mentally drained. Time spent in nature can lead to a 21% improvement in mental energy and reduce mental fatigue. We can’t expect to gain clarity in our life if we’re constantly hopping from one thing to the next.

Leave the phone at home and take time to connect with the environment around you. Your mind (and body) will thank you for it.

#5: Improves Social & Inner Connection

This one might be my favorite. Spending time outside increases our ability to connect with others, with studies showing a 25% increase in positive social interactions.

I would argue more importantly, it improves our ability to connect with ourselves. There is nothing I love more than some solo time spent next to a river. I can literally feel my nervous system regulate itself. It’s also my favorite place to think, whether I need some creative inspiration or want clarity.

But what I would argue is even more important than that is by spending time outside, it helps us connect with the land. I think this aspect is often overlooked. It’s a big reason why I love bikepacking so much. It’s a activity that gets me outside for prolonged periods of time and helps me connect with the land that I call home in Colorado.

Research Sources:

American Psychological Association
University of Michigan Researchers
National Institutes of Health
Psychology Today
Mayo Clinic

Cody Ferguson

Cody is an adventure enthusiast and a supporting facilitator of Rooted Renewal Wellness Retreats. He helps others develop more compassion and resiliency by guiding meditation and cold exposure practices. Cody is based in Boulder, Colorado.