Imagining Nature Can Help You Relax, Scientific Study Says

When you’re stressed, going on a walk and getting fresh air can offer a small sense of relief—especially in a busy, ever-changing world that leaves little time for rest and relaxation. Multiple studies have shown time and time again that nature has a direct impact on psychological stress, and exposure to natural environments can help relieve some of those feelings. In fact, a new study published by the Journal of Environmental Psychology offers an even more specific way to get the most out of a day spent in nature: practicing mental imagery. 

To learn more, researchers surveyed 50 students from an introductory psychology course at the University of Turku and asked them to imagine two mental scenes: one in nature and one in an urban environment. What they found is that, when picturing mental imagery in nature, the participants’ heart rates slowed down, they showed higher nervous system activity, and they reported that they felt calmer.

The Link Between Stress, Nature, and Mental Imagery

To understand how nature can reduce stress, the study references the Stress Reduction Theory (SRT), which claims that there’s an innately positive emotional response to being in nature due to biological evolution (essentially, our mind responds positively to nature because we’ve been biologically conditioned to favor natural environments). Comparatively, the Attention Restoration Theory (ART) explains that visualizing an urban environment causes stress and mental fatigue; in nature, people are removed from a busy urban lifestyle.

Researchers found that when participants imagined themselves in a restorative, natural environment for even 30 seconds, they experienced more relaxation, positive emotions, and stress reduction. Similar results were seen if the participants simply looked at nature-related words. Additionally, mental imagery of nature didn’t just include greenery—it was also inclusive of nature-related items, such as flowers and bugs. The stronger your connection to nature, the more you’ll benefit from this type of psychological exercise. So the next time you’re feeling stressed, imagine yourself in an ideal natural environment. Or take it one step further and go outside, meeting nature face to face.