I read the summaries of two studies, and I’d like to share the results with you and your family. The first study involved over 220 participants in a program of weekly “nature-based activities” for either 1 to 4 weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, or 9 to 12 weeks. The “nature-based activities” included one of three options: gardening and group farming (care farming, specifically), sports and exercise, or outdoor mindfulness and crafts. Participants’ mental health was assessed before and after the program.

Those who participated in any of the activities reported improvement in their sense of well-being and exhibited improvement in their mental health. And, not surprisingly, the longer the involvement, the greater the improvement in mood and anxiety.

Interestingly, however, involvement in gardening and farming resulted in greater improvement than involvement in sports and exercise or outdoor mindfulness and crafts. those who engaged in gardening and farming reported greater improvement in their sense of well-being and in mood and anxiety than those who engaged in the other activities. Other studies have suggested that connecting with nature improves mood and sense of well-being. Perhaps “connecting with nature in the company of other people” further helps by offsetting loneliness and disconnectedness which so often contributes to, and is exacerbated, by anxiety and depression.

The second study surveyed over 600 people to evaluate 15 different behaviors and their impact on one’s mental well-being. Each of the 15 behaviors led to an increase in mental well-being. The two that proved most advantageous included “chatting with others daily” and spending time in nature every day.

I wanted to share these two studies with you because they offer a simple, inexpensive way to build connection, improve mood, decrease anxiety, and increase joy in your family. It involves two things…and they can be done both together and alone.

• Spend time in nature. You can do this by going for a walk in a park, along a body of water, or in a local patch of woods. Or you can maintain a vegetable garden, an herb garden, or a flower garden. Connecting with nature improves mood, decreases anxiety, and improves overall well-being. Isn’t that something you’d like for your family and yourself?
• Spend time chatting with others, especially family. It doesn’t have to be a life-altering, world-changing conversation, just a simple chat to connect. Connecting with others by chatting improves our sense of well-being and is linked to better mental health. Simply chatting with your spouse everyday can improve your spouse’s sense of well-being and the well-being of your marriage. Chatting with your children can improve their sense of well-being and increase the bond of your relationship. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?
• Engage in these two simple activities at the same time with your family. Start a family herb garden. Tend to that garden while you chat with your family. Enjoy planting and harvesting a small garden with your family, chatting as you do. Go for a walk in a local part while conversing. You’ll enjoy the benefits of each of the individual activities, but you’ll enjoy it with your family and build a healthier, more intimate relationship while you do.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But sometimes simple things are the best things. Enjoy nature. Enjoy a chat. Grow stronger as a family.