If you’ve spent time in nature, you know how it can transport your mind, body, and spirit to a different place. Some call it peaceful, some call it serene, and for others it sparks joy, but what is really happening that gives us all “that feeling” in nature? In Why Nature Feels So Good - Pt 1: Our Bodies I discussed the harmony between our bodies and nature and how physically our bodies find relief in being able to understand and compute the inputs of nature, but that isn’t the full story. Our minds hold a prominent component of why nature feels so good, for many of the reasons discussed below.

Speed of Information

There is no shortage of information in 21st century life. If you have a question, you can get it answered instantly on a handy little device most of us carry around. With AI the answers are getting more intelligent than ever, while the effort required to seek out an answer is reducing to the effort of the thought itself. Even if we aren’t asking questions, we are still bombarded with information. Endless emails sharing reminders and information with us. Social media scrolling, where we can scroll past information curated for or preferences at a speed faster than we can absorb. And a constant availability to others, sharing the events and feelings of our days in real time. A fire hose of information is available to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It isn’t just available, it’s constantly drawing us in.

So what happens when we are constantly absorbing information at a high speed? The beginning of this answer is lies in the fact that our minds are not designed to absorb inputs this quickly. Going back to Why Nature Feels So Good Part 1, our biology was not built for the civilization that we live in. We were built for a much more primal existence of basic survival. So what happens? Cognitive fatigue.

Cognitive fatigue is an exhaustion of our minds, a form of stress. Our bodies do not know the difference between types of stressors, whether your stress is produced from a bear chasing you or chronic cognitive fatigue, your nervous system responds the same way, it tenses up and prioritizes essential functions.

Now let’s think about time in nature, away from computers and phones. Nature delivers information to your body at a pace it can consume. Sure, there are actual stressors like wildlife, however the vast majority of the time in nature is calming your stress responses and your nervous system, simply by not overwhelming it with information. Instead of digesting information like a computer, you are absorbing information through your senses. You are connecting brain patterns, instead of of bypassing them. The pace of nature gives your brain (and your body) the opportunity to receive information slow enough to be able to identify it, process it, and maybe even find pleasure in it.

Interruption & Deep Thought

Let’s go back to our daily lives, but thinking about interruptions this time. As technologies have evolved, the number of notifications, pings, and distractions that we encounter has grown exponentially. The interruptions are no longer all external. For many of us, our brains are so accustomed to interruptions, that we feel an urge to constantly “check” for an interruption. When we’re honest, how often do we find ourselves picking up our phones or toggling back to emails without even noticing…for some, it is multiple times a minute, for most, multiple times and hour.

How do our brains feel about the constant interruption? Our brains are naturally wired for learning, problem-solving, and long-term survival. Our prefrontal cortex is responsible for complex reasoning, connecting ideas, and organizing information all to help us survive in the world. The pathways and matter in our brain are designed for deep thought, when interrupted, your brain operates with surface level processing. Constant surface level processing can lead to weak memory recall, difficulty explaining something you “know”, and increased challenges to learn, since the deeper pathways are not utilized. It’s no wonder that “brain fog” is one of the most googled symptoms of our time.

So what happens in nature in regards to deep thought? Nature engages the Default Mode Network (DMN) in your brain. The DMN is responsible for deep thought, self-reflection, and creativity. How does this happen? Nature is a low-stimulation, high-focus environment. The slower pace of nature gives your mind a place to rest in, the brain has space to wander and process thoughts more deeply. The “interruptions” of nature, unless they are a threat to survival, are computed by the brain as a part of the sensory experience, they are easily understood as a part of the experience of the moment.

Is it possible to achieve deep thought without being in nature? Absolutely. The difference is, depending on the construct of your daily life, deep thought requires effort. Nature removes the effort, giving the mind singular focal points, delivered at a digestible pace, creating an environment for deep thought to thrive.

To me, one of the gifts of nature is know how life is meant to feel, how our nervous systems are meant to operate, and how clear our minds can actually be. After spending time in nature, we have a little more awareness of the impact of the barrage of information and interruptions in daily life. With awareness, we can better create space for deep thought in our lives. Maybe it’s journaling, a yoga class, breathing exercises, moving your body, or spending time outside without our phones. “Time in nature” doesn’t need to be a big, instagrammable moment in the mountains. It can be a tiny moment admiring a plant in your house, a tree’s web of branches, or even just feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Next will be final piece of this series, Why Nature Feels So Good - Pt 3: Spirituality. Part 3 doesn’t delineate between religions, but instead focuses on the greater connection felt in any religion or spiritual practice. Coming soon.

Stay tuned,
Susan