The enveloping scent of cherry blossoms, the first sunny days, and that typical feeling of newfound energy: spring has finally arrived.

Nature has a beneficial effect on our psychophysical health. This is not just common sense but scientific evidence supported by decades of studies

The regenerating power of nature

Green spaces such as parks, woods, gardens, and the countryside are an antidote to stress: they lower blood pressure, reduce the excitement of the nervous system, improve the functions of the immune system and, in general, reduce anxiety and improve mood. In addition to this, they allow you to increase creativity, memory, and concentration.

If the regenerating effect of green spaces has been established for some time, evidence in support of blue spaces is also starting to emerge in the literature. The sea, rivers, lakes, and bodies of water represent, in fact, a panacea for our psychological well-being. Elements capable of generating calm, tranquility, and relaxation.

What is particularly surprising, however, is yet another fact. According to science, around 120 minutes a week in contact with nature would be enough to derive concrete benefits.

In Contact with Nature 3 practical tips

Being in contact with nature – in all its forms and nuances – allows you to free your mind and stock up on energy. But how can you introduce natural environments into your routine?

Below are three suggestions.

1 Experience the nature around you – in your way and at your own pace

Mountains, forests, and beaches represent a “natural medicine” for the mind and mood. To experience the benefits of nature, however, it is not always necessary to go far.
Research shows, for example, that even walking along a tree-lined avenue or spending a few hours in the park can have a positive impact on our well-being. But there’s more: recent studies show that the experience of nature is equally positive if lived with the help of the virtual and digital. Even if artificial, images, sounds, and smells of natural landscapes can lead to benefits for our health. Listening to the rustle of the wind through headphones or diving into the ocean floor thanks to a documentary can be, for example, accessible ways to connect to nature.
Find your balance between online and offline experiences and experience nature in all its expressions, whenever you can.

2 Color your planner green and blue

Making contact with nature part of your everyday life can be easier than you think. Try, for example, spending your lunch break in the park, practicing outdoor sports, or even taking care of your plants during your breaks. Choose bright places to work and enrich your week with experiences and trips out of town.
Walks in the mountains, visits to the lake, or overnight stays at a campsite: carve out time to dedicate to nature and defend it in your diary with dedicated colors. Blue and green, for example, can be a visual reminder of your appointments with nature and have a regenerating effect between commitments, deadlines, and errands.

3 Take care of nature and your mind

Closely linked to nature, the role of climate change, and its negative effects on our mental health. Among these, worry, agitation, and malaise contribute to generating phenomena of eco-anxiety: the chronic fear of environmental ruin.
According to experts, implementing pro-environmental behaviors such as cycling, choosing a sustainable diet or recycling can be valid allies in managing uncertainties related to the environment. In this sense, Mindfulness can also be a precious tool for cultivating one’s well-being and learning to manage experiences of anxiety and stress. Formal practices such as conscious walking or mindful walking teach you to focus your attention on the present moment and the surrounding environment, allowing you to free your mind from frustrations and intrusive thoughts. An exercise to stop and focus on yourself and your steps.

Climate quitting the ESG role of companies

More and more people – especially Millennials and Gen Z – are experiencing symptoms of eco-anxiety and solastalgia. It is therefore not surprising that in the workplace it is the new generations who consider values ​​such as environmental and social sustainability to be fundamental. 

Constant attention towards our planet is reflected in the so-called ” Climate quitting “: the practice of leaving a job or refusing one because the ESG – Environmental, Social, and social commitments are considered insufficient Governance – of a company.

In this regard, a recent research conducted by KPMG UK which involved around 6,000 workers in the United Kingdom, highlighted that almost one in two people (46%) would like their company to be committed to ESG. A desire that also manifests itself in professional choices: the study shows that one in five people (20%) rejected a job offer when the company’s ESG commitments were not in line with their values ​​and expectations. A percentage that even rises to one in three for people between 18 and 24 years old and which also remains high for the 35-44 age group.

Data and statistics leave no doubt: the future of companies is inevitably linked to the commitment demonstrated already in the present.

Attention to sustainability – human, social, and environmental – is a strategic asset in terms of employer branding, productivity, and performance. Companies and organizations involved in these aspects can have a significant impact not only on the well-being of our planet but also on the psychological health of their people, promoting attraction, retention, and better work performance. A virtuous circle to start today, because waiting is no longer an option.