How Nature Calms Your Nervous System

1. What the Study Looked At

Researchers wanted to know how being in nature—a park, forest, garden, lake, or even a street with trees—changes our nervous system.

They asked:

• Can nature help our body relax?

• Does nature make stress go away faster?

• How does nature change our breathing and mood?

They looked at:

1. How the body reacts in nature
   Does the heart slow down?
   Do we breathe more calmly?

2. How nature affects the two nervous systems

• Sympathetic: stress mode — fight, freeze, or run

• Parasympathetic: calm mode — rest, recover, relax

3. How nature affects feelings
   Do people feel safer?
   Do children play more calmly?

They studied adults, kids, and families in many places: parks, hospitals, city streets, and forests.

2. What They Found

1. Nature helps the body calm down
   Trees, plants, and sunlight help the nervous system enter “rest and recover.”
   Heartbeats slow.
   Breathing becomes deeper.
   Muscles relax.

2. Loud, busy places keep the body stressed
   Traffic, screens, crowded streets make the brain stay alert.
   It looks for danger even if nothing is wrong.
   We get tired, irritated, or unfocused.

3. A short time is enough
   Even 10–15 minutes outside can reduce stress.
   You don’t need hours.
   Just a small break.

4. Children calm down even faster
   Their brains are still growing.
   Nature helps them feel safe, learn better, and sleep better.

3. What This Means for Everyday Life

Your nervous system works like a balance.

Too much stress → the body stays tense.
Work, school, screens, rushing, loud noises.

Nature brings the balance back.

The body responds to simple things:

• Wind in the trees

• Birds singing

• Shadows of leaves

• Grass under your feet

• Water sounds

• Fresh air

• Blue sky

These tell your brain:
“You are safe.”

Adults often feel:

• More relaxed shoulders

• Slower thoughts

• Deeper breathing

• Less worry

Children often show:

• More peaceful play

• Fewer tantrums

• Longer attention

• Better sleep

Nature is medicine for the nervous system.

4. Small Reset Habits (Easy 10-Minute Ideas)

1. Sky Breathing
   Look at the sky for a few minutes.
   Inhale slowly.
   Exhale slowly.
   Even from a window.

2. Tree Walk
   Walk slowly along trees or plants.
   Say what you see: “green leaves,” “big tree,” “soft grass.”

3. Nature Touch
   Let your child gently touch three things:
   a leaf, a stone, a flower.
   Ask: smooth or rough? warm or cool?

4. Water Pause
   Sit near a pond, fountain, or stream.
   Listen to the water.
   Let your body match its rhythm.

5. Limitations

Nature helps many people,
but not everyone the same way.

1. Some parks are relaxing,
   others are noisy or crowded.

2. Some people feel calm right away,
   others need a few days or weeks.

3. Nature is not a magic cure.
   Sleep, food, routine, and support also matter.

Reference

Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7