Last week I attended a lecture at the Royal Botanical Garden with guest Dr. Nadina Galle, an Ecological Engineer who combines her love “for ecology with a fascination for technology to develop and bring to market emerging solutions that reconnect people with nature” (Dr. Galles website).
She introduced us to the concept of the “Internet of Nature” (IoN)—a global movement that uses technology to create nature-rich, resilient communities in the face of climate change, public health challenges, and ecosystem degradation. (Dr. Galles website)
As our urban communities grow, our green spaces seem to decrease and connecting with nature gets a little harder. When I lived in Toronto there were some great green spaces – I lived in the Beaches area of the city. I had access to water and parks, but in other areas of the city, it was a concrete jungle. Now, in Hamilton, I am very lucky to be able to get to a trail or park within a 10 minute drive. We are surrounded by nature.
But that doesn’t mean we always take advantage of it. As we get more reliant on our technology, plus living in urban settings, we tend to spend less time outside. On top of that, after a long day we are often tired and just want to catch up on our latest show… or bing watch that new Crave series. Maybe we just don’t feel like we have the luxury of taking a walk amidst the chaos in our lives.
But being connected to nature has incredible benefits! Cognitive benefits, improvement in moods, emotional well-being!
According to the Canadian Psychological Association,
Exposure to nature enhances mental health, which is defined as a state of well-being in which individuals can cope with the normal stressors of life while maintaining a positive outlook.
Some examples from environmental psychology research are:
- Attention: Our attention is a limited resource and it can become ‘fatigued’ throughout the day. Nature has been shown to restore attention and our ability to concentrate
- Mood: Nature improves mood and makes people feel happier
- Self-regulation: Nature helps us feel calmer and less irritable. This means that we are better able to control our impulses
- Stress: Nature reduces symptoms of anxiety, physical stress, and heart rate. It also helps us feel more relaxed
- Social: Nature tends to increase generosity, cooperation, and our sense of social connection
taken from “Psychology Works” Fact Sheet: Benefits of Nature Exposure Article
How much time do we need to spend in nature to get these benefits?
It can be as simple as 10 minutes! Here are some ways to get out into nature that you can easily incorporate into your day, even if you have a heavy load on your shoulders:
Morning Walk: can be a quick 10 minute walk or even 5 minute walk.
Eat Lunch Outside: perhaps you work in a dense urban city, but scope out some small parkettes nearby. When I worked downtown Toronto, there were a few small places I could walk to and find a park bench or a fountain near trees, so it’s not impossible.
Weekend Nature trails: are you in the Hamilton/Burlington area? Check out the RBG for their awesome trails. Or, visit Ontario Hiking Trails to see which ones would work best for you, or are family friendly
Create green spaces! Maybe it’s just adding a plant to your desk at work, or maybe it’s getting outside and starting a small veggie garden with the kids, or even at your place. I started one at my apartment and it’s grown!
Braver Together 
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