The Nervous System and the Power of Walking in Nature

In a world that rarely slows down, our nervous systems are constantly under pressure. From juggling wrok, family, and daily demands to the constant hum of digital life, we often find ourselves stuck in a state of low-grade stress. But there’s a quiet, powerful antidote right at our feet: walking in nature.

Why Your Nervous System Needs Nature

Your autonomic nervous system - the part of your body that regulates stress and relaxation has two branches:

• The Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight), and

• The Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest and digest)

Modern life tends to overstimulate the sympathetic side, leaving many of us feeling anxious, wired and burnt out. According to a 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology, “contact with natural environments is associated with lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety”.

And walking? It’s one of the most accessible and effective tools for shifting back into balance.

“Walking regulates the nervous system, allowing the body to release stress while promoting calm,” says Dr. Qing Li, author of Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Hapiness

How Walking in Nature Heals

When we walk in wild or green spaces, several things happen:

• Rhythmic movement soothes the brain. The repetitive nature of walking is linked to increased serotonin levels and decreased mental fatigue.

• Natural settings reduce sensory input. Unlike city environment , which bombard us with stimuli, nature allows the nervous system to down-regualate.

• Walking promotes presence. You’re less likely to ruminate when your senses are engaged by the rustle of leaves, the call of a bird, or the feel of earth underfoot.

As psychologist and author Dr Mary Ann Bauman puts it: “Movement in natural environments calms the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and problem solving - and activates the default mode network, where creativity and rest live.”

We often think we need to do something to fix our stress but sometimes, the most powerful act of care is simply being - especially being outside. walking gently, and letting the nervous system return to a more natural rhythm.

Let the wild walk with you.