How Helping the Environment Can Make You Feel Better

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Helping the Environment Is ImportantOverall BenefitsMental Health BenefitsPhysical Health BenefitsWhy It’s Good to Get OutsideHow to Help the Environment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Why Helping the Environment Is Important

Overall Benefits

Mental Health Benefits

Physical Health Benefits

Why It’s Good to Get Outside

How to Help the Environment

Close

Connecting to the environment can help decrease stress and increase your mental health.This article will explore why helping the environment is important, the benefits of caring for our shared land, and ways you can get involved.

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Climate changehas reached an unprecedented point of peril. We are globally experiencing rising temperatures, widespread droughts, and intense natural disasters, all signs of our overburdened environment.

Climate change isn’t an individual issue—it is a collective issue that impacts each of us. When we all do our part in helping theenvironment, we shift our earth’s health for the better.

Additionally, helping the environment can help us feel a sense of control and agency in the midst of a phenomenon that feels very scary and unmanageable.

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Benefits of Helping the Environment

Helping the environment isn’t only beneficial to our earth—it is also very helpful for ourmentalandphysical well-being. When we care for the environment, we are often engaged in the natural world, whether that isgetting outsidefor a beach cleanup or growing your ownfood.

Through being outside and becoming active in nature, we can begin to experience both mental and physical health benefits.

How Nature Therapy Helps Your Mental Health

When it comes to navigating the feelings that accompany climate change, engaging in pro-environmental behavior can be powerful in managingpainful emotions.

Spending time nurturing the environment can be seen as a form ofhope, which is extremely important for maintaining our mental health. Hope doesn’t suggest that we simply wish for change. Instead, hope is an active process where we maintain faith in the ability for change through engaging in pro-environmental behavior.

While it is expected to have complex and challenging feelings regarding climate change, beginning to engage in the solution can be immensely helpful.

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Climate change is especially dismal for our physical health. Air pollution, decreased quality offoodand water, andstressare all threats to our physical well-being.

Taking positive action to offset climate change can, in turn, decrease the threats environmental changes pose to our physical health.

Furthermore, exploring ways to help the environment can result in healthy behaviors.Gardeningis a great physical activity and growing your own food increases your intake of fruits and veggies.

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What Are the Benefits of Getting Outside?

Getting outside is incredibly important for our mental and physical health. Spending time in nature can result in less cognitivefatigue, decreased risk ofmental illness, enhanced mood, and higherself-esteem.

Even simply getting some sunshine can have huge mental health benefits—sun exposure can decrease exhaustion anddepressivesymptoms.

When it comes to physical health, outdoor activity can lead to decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline.

Consider how you can get outside and help the environment. For example, volunteering at a nature reserve or helping plant trees with a local organization are two ways you can get outside and engage in pro-environmental behavior.

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Ways You Can Help the Environment

As previously mentioned, hope requires action. In the spirit of moving toward the healing of our globe and the well-being of our communities, finding ways to get involved in helping the environment is essential.

Below are some ideas:

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A Word From Verywell

It is hard to not feel scared and hopeless when considering our rapidly changing climate. However, there are steps you can take that aren’t only good for the environment, but also for your own wellness. You’re not in this alone and we are stronger together. If you’re finding that concerns about the environment are significantly impacting your daily life,reach out to a therapist for some support.

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10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3Bulkeley H.Cities and Climate Change. 1st ed. England, UK: Routledge; 2013.Ágoston C, Csaba B, Nagy B, et al.Identifying types of eco-anxiety, eco-guilt, eco-grief, and eco-coping in a climate-sensitive population: a qualitative study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(4):2461. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042461Hayes K, Blashki G, Wiseman J, Burke S, Reifels L.Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions.IJMHS. 2018;12(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6Tong S, Ebi K.Preventing and mitigating health risks of climate change.Environ. Res.2019;174:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.012Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3Knippenberg S, Damoiseaux J, Bol Y, et al.Higher levels of reported sun exposure, and not vitamin D status, are associated with less depressive symptoms and fatigue in multiple sclerosis.Acta Neurol Scand. 2014;129(2):123-131. doi: 10.1111/ane.12155Egli V, Oliver M, Tautolo ES.The development of a model of community garden benefits to wellbeing.Prev. Med. Rep.2016;3:348-352. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.04.005Betts Kellyn S.Big biking payoff: alternative transportation could net midwest over $8 billion.Environ. Health Perspect. 2012;120(1):a34-a34. doi: 10.1289/ehp.120-a34bNiinimäki K, Peters G, Dahlbo H, Perry P, Rissanen T, Gwilt A.The environmental price of fast fashion.Nat Rev Earth Environ. 2020;1(4):189-200. doi: 10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3Bulkeley H.Cities and Climate Change. 1st ed. England, UK: Routledge; 2013.Ágoston C, Csaba B, Nagy B, et al.Identifying types of eco-anxiety, eco-guilt, eco-grief, and eco-coping in a climate-sensitive population: a qualitative study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(4):2461. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042461Hayes K, Blashki G, Wiseman J, Burke S, Reifels L.Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions.IJMHS. 2018;12(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6Tong S, Ebi K.Preventing and mitigating health risks of climate change.Environ. Res.2019;174:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.012Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3Knippenberg S, Damoiseaux J, Bol Y, et al.Higher levels of reported sun exposure, and not vitamin D status, are associated with less depressive symptoms and fatigue in multiple sclerosis.Acta Neurol Scand. 2014;129(2):123-131. doi: 10.1111/ane.12155Egli V, Oliver M, Tautolo ES.The development of a model of community garden benefits to wellbeing.Prev. Med. Rep.2016;3:348-352. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.04.005Betts Kellyn S.Big biking payoff: alternative transportation could net midwest over $8 billion.Environ. Health Perspect. 2012;120(1):a34-a34. doi: 10.1289/ehp.120-a34bNiinimäki K, Peters G, Dahlbo H, Perry P, Rissanen T, Gwilt A.The environmental price of fast fashion.Nat Rev Earth Environ. 2020;1(4):189-200. doi: 10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3Bulkeley H.Cities and Climate Change. 1st ed. England, UK: Routledge; 2013.Ágoston C, Csaba B, Nagy B, et al.Identifying types of eco-anxiety, eco-guilt, eco-grief, and eco-coping in a climate-sensitive population: a qualitative study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(4):2461. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042461Hayes K, Blashki G, Wiseman J, Burke S, Reifels L.Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions.IJMHS. 2018;12(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6Tong S, Ebi K.Preventing and mitigating health risks of climate change.Environ. Res.2019;174:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.012Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3Knippenberg S, Damoiseaux J, Bol Y, et al.Higher levels of reported sun exposure, and not vitamin D status, are associated with less depressive symptoms and fatigue in multiple sclerosis.Acta Neurol Scand. 2014;129(2):123-131. doi: 10.1111/ane.12155Egli V, Oliver M, Tautolo ES.The development of a model of community garden benefits to wellbeing.Prev. Med. Rep.2016;3:348-352. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.04.005Betts Kellyn S.Big biking payoff: alternative transportation could net midwest over $8 billion.Environ. Health Perspect. 2012;120(1):a34-a34. doi: 10.1289/ehp.120-a34bNiinimäki K, Peters G, Dahlbo H, Perry P, Rissanen T, Gwilt A.The environmental price of fast fashion.Nat Rev Earth Environ. 2020;1(4):189-200. doi: 10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9

Gladwell VF, Brown DK, Wood C, Sandercock GR, Barton JL.The great outdoors: how a green exercise environment can benefit all.Extrem Physiol Med.2013;2(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-3

Bulkeley H.Cities and Climate Change. 1st ed. England, UK: Routledge; 2013.

Ágoston C, Csaba B, Nagy B, et al.Identifying types of eco-anxiety, eco-guilt, eco-grief, and eco-coping in a climate-sensitive population: a qualitative study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(4):2461. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042461

Hayes K, Blashki G, Wiseman J, Burke S, Reifels L.Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions.IJMHS. 2018;12(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Tong S, Ebi K.Preventing and mitigating health risks of climate change.Environ. Res.2019;174:9-13. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.012

Knippenberg S, Damoiseaux J, Bol Y, et al.Higher levels of reported sun exposure, and not vitamin D status, are associated with less depressive symptoms and fatigue in multiple sclerosis.Acta Neurol Scand. 2014;129(2):123-131. doi: 10.1111/ane.12155

Egli V, Oliver M, Tautolo ES.The development of a model of community garden benefits to wellbeing.Prev. Med. Rep.2016;3:348-352. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.04.005

Betts Kellyn S.Big biking payoff: alternative transportation could net midwest over $8 billion.Environ. Health Perspect. 2012;120(1):a34-a34. doi: 10.1289/ehp.120-a34b

Niinimäki K, Peters G, Dahlbo H, Perry P, Rissanen T, Gwilt A.The environmental price of fast fashion.Nat Rev Earth Environ. 2020;1(4):189-200. doi: 10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9

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