Connecting with nature after brain injury

Nature is all around us through all the seasons, whether we are indoors or outdoors, at home or abroad, awake or asleep, aware or unaware of it. It is accessible, it is free, and did you know… it can be a form of therapy?

What is nature?

If you check a dictionary definition of ‘nature’, it is described by Merriam-Webster as “the external world in its entirety” – and the world is a very large place! Nature is everywhere. It is the ocean and the mountains, the flora and the fauna, the weather and the
seasons.

Nature relates to the world around us. Many of us enjoy nature when the weather is nice, when we plan a trip outdoors, or even when we want to relax. Nature can also be harsh, such as during cold winter months or when natural disasters strike.

For many, nature in all forms holds metaphors, symbolism and meaning, for instance in its resilience, its endurance and its ever-changing ways.

How can nature help after brain injury?

We can all say first-hand how good it feels to spend time outdoors, breathing in the fresh air and appreciating the beauty of a spectacular sunset, a stretching beach, the ripples on a lake or the gentle rustling sound of leaves in the trees. Nature is good for everyone’s well-being, with research finding benefits for both physical and emotional well-being, as well as having a positive impact on cognition (the skills we use when learning or processing information).

Research studies that have looked into the impact of nature specifically after brain injury have found that nature-based rehabilitation may improve the impact of brain injury, including improving motivation and engagement in rehabilitation, mood and emotional regulation, sensory-motor and cognitive functions, positivity and identity formation.

Nature therapy has also been found to improve quality of life and mental fatigue in people affected by post-concussion syndrome.

How can brain injury survivors connect with nature?

Keep it simple

Remember, nature is everywhere, all around us, so you do not have to go far to look for and enjoy it. Open your curtains and look out of the window, buy a houseplant to tend to, grow your own vegetables, or simply look up at the sky.

Explore

Think about more explorative forms of nature, such as going to the beach, the countryside, the mountains or a local nature reserve. Consider nature-based activities such as foraging, forest bathing, surfing or hiking, depending on your skills and ability.

Spend quality time

Make your time spent in nature good quality. Research has found that the quality of time spent in nature is more impactful than the actual amount of time spent. For example, pay attention to the different types of trees around you, or try to distinguish the different types of birdsong you can hear in the morning’s choir.

Use your senses

Use your sense of touch, taste, smell, hearing or sight to explore nature. If some of your senses have been affected by brain injury, try compensating by using your remaining senses, for example using nature-based oils for aromatherapy, touching the different textures on a tree or listening to the different types of bird song outside.

Include nature in your routine

Involve nature in part of your daily routine, such as having your morning coffee beside an open window or going for a short walk outside each day.

Reflect

Think about how nature makes you feel, what you  observe, what questions it makes you ask, what metaphors you take away from it. Allow yourself to feel emotions such as awe, curiosity and appreciation.