How Lonely Walks in Nature Can Make You Feel Less Alone

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How Lonely Walks in Nature Can Make You Feel Less Alone

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If you’ve spent enough time on social media, you’ve probably seen someone say to “hit the grass.” Usually addressed to online terminals, this line is a humorous and insulting reminder to maintain a connection to the real world. But with so much of our lives spent online and a growing epidemic of loneliness, the ‘Touch the Grass’ posters might just be on to something. New research published in Health and location suggests that participating in outdoor activities, even alone, might actually protect us from feeling lonely.

While participating in activities in nature has been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness, this effect is usually attributed to the social nature of the activities, which makes sense. What if the natural environment also played a role? Can feeling a connection with nature help you feel less alone? This is the question that sociologist Johan Cottis Hoff tried to answer in this latest study.

To answer this, it recruited participants from the region surrounding Mjøsa – Norway’s largest lake and a popular destination for outdoor recreation – to complete a survey. Respondents were asked about their connection to nature, their attachment to Mjøsa, their feelings of loneliness, and how often they engaged in various solo outdoor activities (walking, exercising, fishing, canoeing, etc.).

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He found that participating in outdoor activities and feeling connected to nature were associated with lower levels of loneliness. “The conclusion is that outdoor activities in natural environments largely have a protective effect against loneliness,” Hoff said in a statement. “Strengthening the feeling of belonging, not only to others, but also to natural environments and the environment, seems to have a protective effect against loneliness.”

It is important to note that not all outdoor excursions are suitable. Physical activities like jogging aren’t as effective at relieving loneliness as activities that enhance a sense of connection with nature, like a casual walk around the lake. “When you see yourself as part of nature, you create a sense of community,” Hoff said.

In other words, if you want to take advantage of the great outdoors to feel less alone, it’s important to truly engage with nature. So next time you’re out, don’t forget to enjoy the sun, watch the birds and, yes, touch the grass.