Why Getting Outside Might Be Exactly What Your Mental Health Needs
Phil Hosmer, Founder & Executive Director of Nature Worx, Certified Ecotherapy Facilitator
With Earth Day here, it feels like a good time to reflect on something we don’t always think about in a deeper way: how much being outside can actually support our mental health.
I recently spoke with Phil Hosmer from Nature Worx, a nature-based therapy organization focused on helping people reconnect with the natural world. One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was that nature is not just something nice or relaxing. It can be a really meaningful tool for improving our overall well-being.
What Is Nature-Based Therapy?
Phil explained that their work is rooted in ecotherapy, which is “based on ecopsychology, which is the study of the natural environment on the human brain and how different stimuli outdoors impact our brain chemistry, our mood, and our mental health symptoms.”
In other words, there is actual science behind why we feel better when we are outside. Ecotherapy then takes that knowledge and puts it into practice: “How can we utilize the positive benefits of nature on the human brain in a therapeutic way?”
At Nature Worx, this doesn’t look like traditional therapy in an office. Instead, it often involves small groups going outside, slowing down, and engaging with their surroundings in a more intentional way.
Slowing Down and Being Present
One of the things that stood out most to me was how much their approach focuses on slowing down.
“We are actually all about the journey, not the destination,” Phil said. “So what we do is a word called saunter.”
That idea feels really important. We are so used to rushing through things, that we don’t actually experience them. Through practices like breathwork and engaging the senses, their sessions help people become more present. Phil explained, “When people are in their senses, it drops them into a different part of their brain.”
Instead of being stuck in constant thinking, analyzing, and stress, being in nature allows us to shift into a more grounded, aware state.
Why Nature Helps Our Mental Health
A lot of what Phil described connects to something many of us already experience without realizing it. You know that feeling when you’ve been inside all day, stuck on your computer, and you finally go outside, even for a short walk, and come back feeling clearer? There’s a reason for that.
Phil talked about how nature gives our brains a break from the constant mental effort we’re used to. “We need to get back in touch with nature because we need it. We need it in a very deep way,” Phil said.
He also emphasized something that really stuck with me, and that is how quickly nature can help us feel less disconnected. “Literally the moment you step outside, you are connected to the tree that’s next to you, to all of the animals and birds that are out there, to the air that’s outside,” Phil shared. In a world where so much of our time is spent indoors and on screens, that kind of connection can feel grounding in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Simple Ways to Reconnect with Nature
One of the most helpful parts of our conversation was how simple and accessible this can actually be. It doesn’t have to be a big hike or a full day outdoors.
Phil shared a few small, intentional ways people can start incorporating nature into their daily lives:
1. Create a daily “nature pause”
“Leave your phone inside. Step outside. At a minimum 10 minutes would be good.”
Even a short amount of time can make a difference.
2. Use your senses
During that time, focus on “what you hear, what you see, what you smell, and what you feel on your skin.”
This helps shift you out of your head and into the present moment.
3. Let yourself just be
“There’s nothing to do, nothing to accomplish.”
This one feels especially important. We’re so used to being productive that simply sitting and observing can feel unfamiliar, but that’s kind of the point.
4. Step away from your phone
“You have to have time away from your phone, for you to be present in the moment.”
Even if you’re outside, being on your phone can pull you right back into that constant mental noise.
5. Make it intentional
“It’s really important to almost schedule it, like you would schedule anything in your day.”
Otherwise, those 10 minutes can easily get filled with something else.
A Simple Practice with a Big Impact
At the end of the day, what really stood out to me is how simple this all is, and at the same time, how impactful it can be.
Phil said it best: “What we’re doing sounds really simple, but the impact of what we’re doing could be pretty profound.”
And I think that’s what makes this so relevant right now. In a world that feels constantly busy, overstimulating, and disconnected, stepping outside, even for a few minutes, can be a way to reset, reconnect, and come back to yourself. Sometimes, it really is that simple.
