How Nature Affected My Mental Health Journey

Forest bathing became even more important to me in 2020.

“It’s been a hard year for everybody,” was how I initially answered people when they asked me how I was doing. It’s still true. Everyone had a difficult 2020—and some of us have gone through some really awful times. But it took me a few months to realize that that response wasn’t helpful. It never made me feel better, it didn’t reassure people who were asking because they were concerned for me, and it didn’t help anyone asking because they themselves were going through a rough patch. Now, I have a better response.

One of the things I’ve found most helpful this year is forest bathing.

I started doing it in the summer. Once we were out of lockdown and able to safely travel around Scotland, a couple of friends and I went to a camp near Aviemore in the Cairngorms, Scotland’s largest national park. It was a great weekend of hiking and hanging out with friends - two of my favorite things! I even had the chance to teach one of my fellow campers how to build a campfire safely. 

It was only once I’d come back I really appreciated how disconnected I’d felt from nature for most of the start of the year. After coming back to the city, I felt rested despite that weekend being one of the most active in the year for me. I felt like I’d gone through a reset. I slept better after coming back and I felt more energetic and hopeful. I was aware of some research that had shown that natural environments could boost your mental and physical health so I decided to try and engage more regularly with nature. 

Which is how I started forest bathing. Since then, I’ve made an effort to go out for a walk in my local park among the trees as often as I can - usually every day or so. I find it really useful as a way to get out of my apartment during weekdays. I’m currently working from home most days and it’s easy to forget to actually go outside. Going for a walk in the woods on my lunch break really helps me relax and de-stress. Walking through the forest helps me take stock and remember to keep everything in perspective. When I’m out in the great outdoors, I have a better appreciation of what is important. 

I’ll hold my hands up and admit I’m not a zealot. Some days I listen to a podcast or an audiobook whilst walking, which forest bathing purists might scoff at. But for me, it’s about taking the time to unwind and relax, and listening to something I want to (rather than need to - I wouldn’t recommend listening to a news podcast!) helps me enjoy my time wandering beneath the canopy. I’m also aware that everyone’s mental health journey is different, and treatments should be tailored to each individual’s needs. 

Nature isn’t a miracle cure for mental health issues. I don’t want to leave people with the impression that getting out in nature will solve all their problems. It can’t. Nature therapy is gaining respect from medical professionals as a useful, drug-free treatment for mental health issues. But it is only part of the treatment.

If a two-hour walk in the wilderness sounds like your idea of a nightmare, then don’t rely on it to help boost your health and wellbeing. But it’s definitely worth trying, you might be surprised at how relaxing it can be to take some time away from the drama and pressures of modern life and escape into the forest for an hour or so. I know I certainly find peace among the trees. 

So why not try heading out and seeing if you could also get a boost from spending some time enjoying the great outdoors! After all, even if it doesn’t improve your mental wellbeing, there’s plenty of benefits to your physical health that can make it well worthwhile. 

James Black is a Scottish hobbyist camper and hiker. In his day-to-day life, he works as an economist. But his hobbies have encouraged him to start the blog Wilderness Redefined. Through the website, he aims to promote sustainable enjoyment of the great outdoors and encourage making wilderness adventures accessible to all.