If you live in a mountain town, chances are you already know that spending time outside feels good. Maybe it’s that crisp air filling your lungs on an early morning walk, the grounding presence of towering peaks, or the sense of freedom that comes from moving your body in wild places. Nature often becomes part of the rhythm of daily life, offering recreation, beauty, and moments of relief from our busy lives.
But what if the benefits of being outside go beyond fresh air and scenery?
Emerging research suggests that our relationship with nature profoundly shapes the way we think, feel, and function. Entire scientific disciplines are devoted to understanding how time in natural environments influences the mind and body. Fields such as Environmental Neuroscience and Ecopsychology explore the dynamic relationship between the brain, nervous system, emotional well-being, and the natural world. Their findings point toward something many of us intuitively sense: nature doesn’t just feel good, it actively supports mental clarity, emotional resilience, and overall well-being.
One of the leading voices in this research is Marc Berman, founder of an Environmental Neuroscience program at the University of Chicago. Berman defines Environmental Neuroscience as "understanding how the physical environment, everything from trees and parks to noise, light, and air pollution, affects the brain and behavior" (İkiz 2025). This field examines how our surroundings shape attention, stress levels, cognitive functioning, and emotional health. And it reveals that the environments we spend time in may play a much larger role in our well-being than we realize.
A central focus of this research is how nature affects our ability to direct and sustain attention. This focus is called the Attention Restoration Theory. It suggests that natural environments engage our minds in a gentle, effortless way. The sights and sounds of rustling leaves, flowing water, or expansive landscapes hold our attention without demanding too much of it, allowing the brain’s overworked systems to rest and replenish. This is not just a feeling, a physiological change is actually happening. Studies have shown that spending time in natural settings is linked to increases in alpha and theta waves, which is associated with relaxed wakefulness (Estarellas 2025). Studies also show decreases in beta activity, which is more closely related to active effort or cognitive load" (Estarellas 2025). Put simply, the brain looks less “overworked” in nature.
In a world where our focus is constantly pulled outward to work, relationships, responsibilities, and the nonstop stream of information, we often lose touch with ourselves in the noise. Lucky for us, all humans possess the power of choice. Nature creates a safe and natural space to turn inward so that we can use that power of choice and allow our directed attention to rest. "Generally, the brain has less information to process when in a natural environment. Heart rates and breathing will decrease, and brain areas that monitor threats, such as the amygdala, will become less active" (Livingstone 2026). We then get to choose to increase our self-awareness and process thoughts, emotions, and needs with greater clarity.
Marc Berman conducted a study to prove the Attention Restoration Theory in 2009. "The study compared the restorative effects on cognitive functioning of interactions with natural versus urban environments" (Berman et al., 2008). Nature is filled with stimulating, yet subtle characteristics that gently grab attention, versus urban stimulation which has a much more aggressive requirement for attention, making them less restorative.
The procedure of the experiment required participants to listen to a sequence of three to nine digits, then repeat the digits in backwards order (for example, “1-2-3” must be repeated back as “3-2-1”). Participants were then tasked to take a 50 minute walk either through a tree-lined, secluded arboretum or a traffic-heavy downtown city street, then repeat the backwards digit span test.
The results revealed that performance of the backwards digit span test significantly improved when participants walked in nature, but not when they walked in an urban environment. There was also a correlation in increased mood and the number of digits, indicating that participants experienced a sense of “refresh” after the nature walk. "In summary, interactions with nature improved directed-attention abilities as assessed with a backwards digit-span task. This finding is consistent with Attention Restoration Theory" (Berman et al., 2008). (A full report of the study can be found here.)
While Environmental Neuroscience helps us understand how nature impacts the brain and body, Ecopsychology expands the conversation by exploring our deeper psychological relationship with the natural world. Rather than focusing solely on neurological responses to time outdoors, Ecopsychology examines the emotional, psychological, and even spiritual connection between humans and nature. At its core is the belief that human well-being and the health of the natural world are deeply intertwined.
One of the pioneering voices in this field was Theodore Roszak, who explored these ideas extensively in his book, The Voice of the Earth. Roszak argued that many aspects of modern life, particularly lifestyles that limit meaningful connection with the natural world, may contribute to growing mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. He also recognized what many Indigenous cultures have long understood: that nature is not separate from us, but an essential part of daily life, healing, spirituality, and human flourishing.
Ultimately, Roszak believed there was a profound connection between the well-being of people and the well-being of the planet. In his view, "many of the Earth’s struggles are tied to human disconnection and exploitation, while many human ailments, especially those affecting the mind and spirit, stem from our increasing separation from the natural world" (Ungvarsky, 2020).
This perspective invites us to consider a powerful possibility: perhaps spending time in nature is not simply recreation or escape, but a way of reconnecting with something essential within ourselves. The visuals and sounds create a space to escape excessive stimulation in our day-to-day lives. "Time outdoors has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest mode), which is responsible for calming and soothing the body. Nature invites us out of our heads and into our bodies, reconnecting us with the present moment" (Hanley-Dafoe, 2025).
Understandably, many of us might think I am already so busy with my life, I don’t have the time to connect with nature! But deepening your connection with nature doesn’t require hours of your time or a miles-long trek into the wilderness. A nature prescription includes practical ways to maximize the positive effects of nature while minimizing changes to daily routines. In fact, many of the effects of nature can be achieved even if you don’t actually like nature!
Here are a few practical ways that you can deepen your connection with nature, and as a result deepen your connection with yourself!
Ultimately, nature offers far more than a break from daily stress. It provides a powerful pathway back to clarity, presence, and self-awareness. Research continues to show that time outdoors can calm the nervous system, improve focus and memory, reduce stress, and support overall well-being. But perhaps most importantly, nature helps us reconnect with ourselves and what truly matters. Here in the mountains, we're surrounded by one of the most effective forms of medicine available and it's completely free!
If you feel a pull to explore that connection on a deeper level, visit Compass of Becoming to learn more about Nature-Based Life Coaching. Sometimes the path to a healthier mind isn't found by doing more, it's found by stepping outside!
Burçin İkiz. (2025, November). How nature restores our minds: The science behind nature's power to sharpen focus and support mental health. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/connecting-neurons/202511/how-nature-restores-our-minds
Mar Estarellas. (2025, September 15). What happens to your brain in nature? The neuroscience explained. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-happens-to-your-brain-in-nature-the-neuroscience-explained-277332
Melanie Livingstone. (2026, March 5). What happens in your brain when you spend time in nature. Yahoo Wellness. https://health.yahoo.com/wellness/articles/happens-brain-spend-time-nature-230700192.html
Marc G. Berman, John Jonides, & Stephen Kaplan. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207–1212. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x
Ungvarsky, J. (2020). Ecopsychology. EBSCO Research Starters. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/ecopsychology
Robyne Hanley-Dafoe. (2025, May 7). Unexpected ways nature soothes the nervous system. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202505/unexpected-ways-nature-soothes-the-nervous-system
