Get Outside! Exploring the Healing Properties of Nature & The Outdoors

By Anna Armstrong

Sun rays shining down on the Astoria-Megler Bridge that stretches across the Columbia River from Oregon to Washington.

Rolling hills and a tree-lined highway wind down to meet the Columbia River.

As a student at UC Berkeley and a member of a generation that have grown up the witnesses of many injustices, I am no stranger to stress and other overwhelming emotions. Over the years, I have learned that nothing eases my mind quite as effortlessly as being in nature does. Getting outside into nature is extremely beneficial not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. So many others besides myself have found this to be true. The evidence is irrefutable; it is anecdotal and scientific.

Our minds can be nurtured by nature. Researchers at Harvard University School of Medicine found that mood disorders can be lifted by being in nature. Whether it is hiking, biking, or simply sitting on the beach, being amongst nature has the power to make us happier.

POV looking out of the window of the car, watching the storm on the Oregon Coast, driving through the greenery.

A rainy highway in Tillamook, Oregon.`

For me, going on drives in scenic places and listening to music is a meditative practice. According to a study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, meditating in nature can help spur personal growth. People who spend time outdoors are found to be happier and more likely to help others. It is the feeling of wonder that causes one to feel “at home” in nature. The study says, “Wonder can be understood in two dimensions: a feeling of surprise and fascination evoked by an element of nature, and a feeling evoking reflection on what we perceive, motivating a further search for insight.” The search for insight and the feeling of wanderlust are uplifting.

A photo of me dancing amongst the trees.

On a recent trip to Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, the pretty scenery prompted my friends and I to listen to music, dance, and laugh.

My friends, Jasmine and Anjali, and I were all smiles at Redwood Regional Park.

The beautiful scenery only a fifteen minute drive from our dorm was the perfect reward for finishing our final exams.

A view of Roberts Grove at Redwood Regional Park.

As an educator during the COVID-19 Pandemic, my mother has faced an unprecedented year of stress. To cope, we enjoy going for walks with one another.

My mother and I on a walk at Woodward Park in my hometown of Fresno, California.

Our short trip to the Oregon Coast from June 4th to June 6th proved to be the perfect stress reliever.

Scenic views along the northern Oregon coast.

Enjoying the Greenery somewhere in northern Oregon.

Whether it’s the ocean, the forest, or the desert, whether it’s driving, biking, or hiking, everyone can find their nature niche. I hope after viewing these photos and listening to my experiences and the findings in the study, you feel inspired to get outside. The sooner you do, the happier you will be.

Two cousins out for a walk along the Columbia River.

The sky growing dark over the Columbia River as the sun sets.