Forest Bathing and Mental Health

By Sarah Levesque, Sustainability Director with Northwestern Dining - Compass

Have you ever walked outside and taken a long deep breath of fresh air and felt more calm? Or leaned on a strong old tree to steady yourself when the world was spinning and felt yourself breathe easier?

If you have then you know the benefits of nature on your mental health. Being close to trees and nature has been found to benefit every level of human health including mental health. Trees have been shown to help patients in hospitals recover faster, help students perform better in class, and reduced levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in communities.

See the Forest for the Trees

An ancient Japanese practice of taking time to appreciate and enjoy nature while disconnecting is shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. Dr. Qing Li, the founding chairman of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine, describes how to practice forest bathing in his book titled Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness (2018) and Time article:

"You don’t need any devices. Let your body be your guide. Listen to where it wants to take you. Follow your nose. And take your time. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get anywhere. You are not going anywhere. You are savoring the sounds, smells and sights of nature and letting the forest in," writes Dr Li.

"The key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. Listen to the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the leaves of the trees. Look at the different greens of the trees and the sunlight filtering through the branches. Smell the fragrance of the forest and breathe in the natural aromatherapy of phytoncides. Taste the freshness of the air as you take deep breaths. Place your hands on the trunk of a tree. Dip your fingers or toes in a stream. Lie on the ground. Drink in the flavor of the forest and release your sense of joy and calm. This is your sixth sense, a state of mind. Now you have connected with nature. You have crossed the bridge to happiness."

Communing with Nature

Forest bathing is simple: just go outside and walk among the trees, sit in the grasses and flowers, breathe deep and full, and listen to the bird song fill the air; take it all in and enjoy it. A great time and place to start is now, appreciating a Spring forest. The trees are budding, the birds are building nests, communicating with their songs and protecting their young. The lushness of nature is everywhere and it provides the perfect mental health break.