07/30/2026
Being with nature. Thatâs what spending time alone in nature means to me. To me, loneliness lessens because when we are with nature (emphasis on âwithâ), we arenât actually alone. Nature beings are with us, and we are with them. What happens when we open ourselves up to knowing this? Our connection with nature deepens, respect grows, joy and fascination ease suffering. Take a moment to consider this relationship with nature as you wander about this beautiful land. Enjoy your relationship with nature, friends. đđđ
If youâve spent enough time on social media, youâve probably seen someone told to âtouch grass.â Usually leveled at the terminally online, this retort is a humorously insulting reminder to maintain a connection with the real world. But with much of our lives increasingly spent online and a rising epidemic of loneliness, the âtouch grassâ posters might be on to something. Recent research published in Health & Place suggests that engaging in outdoor activitiesâeven aloneâmight actually protect us from feeling lonely.
While participating in activities in nature has been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness, the effect is usually attributed to the social nature of the activities, which makes sense. But what if the natural surroundings are playing a role as well? Can feeling a connection with nature help you feel less alone? Thatâs the question sociologist Johan Cottis Hoff set out to answer in this latest study.
To answer it, he recruited participants from the area surrounding MjøsaâNorwayâs largest lake and a popular destination for outdoor recreationâto take a survey. Respondents were asked about their connectedness to nature, their attachment to Mjøsa, their feelings of loneliness, and how often they engaged in various solo outdoor activities (walking, exercising, fishing, canoeing, and so on).
He found that both engaging in outdoor activities and feeling a connectedness to nature were associated with lower levels of loneliness. âThe conclusion is that outdoor activities in natural environments largely have a protective effect against loneliness,â Hoff said in a statement. âStrengthening the sense of belonging, not just to other people, but to natural environments and the surroundings, appears to have a protective effect against loneliness.â
Importantly, not all open-air excursions fit the bill. Exercise activities like jogging werenât as good at relieving loneliness as activities that reinforces a sense of connectedness with nature, like a casual walk around the lake. âWhen you see yourself as part of nature, you create a sense of belonging to a community,â Hoff said.
In other words, if you want to use the great outdoors to feel less alone, itâs important to actually engage with nature. So the next time youâre outside, remember to luxuriate in the sunlight, spot birds, and, yes, touch grass.
Study links and references->https://nautil.us/how-lonely-walks-in-nature-can-make-you-feel-less-alone-1279985
