May is Mental Health Month, and at Wildelore, we believe there's no better time to slow down, step outside, and reconnect with yourself. As a mom, your days are often filled to the brim. From morning routines to late-night feeds, it can feel like you're always on. But here's a gentle reminder: you deserve to feel good, too. And one of the simplest, most powerful ways to support your mental well-being? Spending time in nature.
Science is catching up with what so many mothers intuitively know: being outdoors helps us breathe easier, literally and figuratively. Whether it's a walk through the trees or five quiet minutes on the porch, nature gives our nervous systems a much-needed reset. And the best part? You don't need to plan a wilderness expedition. Small, intentional moments can make a big difference.
Here are a few science-backed ways that spending time outdoors supports mental health.
1. Nature Helps Regulate the Nervous System
You know that feeling after a long exhale? That’s what time outside can do for your whole body. Being in green spaces reduces the stress hormone cortisol, lowers blood pressure, and calms your nervous system. For moms who are often “on alert” 24/7, this matters.
Even short, repeated exposure to natural environments (think 10-20 minutes a few times a week) can significantly reduce stress. One study from the University of Michigan found that just 20 minutes in nature can lower cortisol levels. Another from the journal Frontiers in Psychology showed that "forest bathing" (immersing yourself in a natural setting) leads to reduced anxiety and improved mood.
Try this: Sit outside with your feet on the earth for 10 minutes. No phone, no distractions. Just you, the air, and the ground beneath you.
2. Natural Light Boosts Mood and Energy
If you’ve ever felt a shift just by stepping into sunlight, there’s a reason for that. Sunlight triggers your body to release serotonin, the “feel good” brain chemical. This boost in serotonin can help lift your mood, support emotional resilience, and even ease symptoms of postpartum depression or seasonal lows.
Morning light is especially powerful. It tells your body it’s time to be awake, alert, and aligned with the day’s rhythm.
Try this: Start your day with five minutes outside, even if it's just on the balcony or porch with a cup of tea.
3. Time Outdoors Encourages Presence
Motherhood often pulls us in a hundred directions at once. But nature invites us back to ourselves.
The texture of bark under your hand. The sound of a creek. The way your child’s laugh echoes across a field. These small moments ground us in the now.
Research confirms this. Spending time in nature can decrease rumination (the loop of anxious or negative thoughts) and promote mindfulness, which supports better mental health
Try this: Go for a short walk and engage your senses. What do you hear? Smell? Feel? Invite your little one to join you and name their favourite sounds.
4. Nature Supports Connection
Whether you're pushing a stroller on a trail or lying in the grass with your toddler, time outdoors offers a chance for meaningful connection—with your children, your partner, or yourself. And these small moments of joy and bonding? They're protective for your mental health.
Research shows that shared nature experiences (like walks, picnics, or even sitting together outside) increase oxytocin, the "love hormone," which reduces stress and deepens emotional bonds.
Try this: Plan a weekly "nature date" with your family. It can be as simple as a walk around the block or a picnic in the backyard.
5. Nature Can Help You Sleep Better—Even if You're Not Sleeping Much
Let’s be honest: telling moms to “get more sleep” can feel like a cruel joke. But even if your sleep is fragmented, time outside during the day can help regulate your internal rhythm and improve the quality of rest you do get.
Natural light during the day helps reset your circadian clock. That means better melatonin production and more restorative sleep, however limited it might be
Try this: Leave the blinds open during the day to let sunlight in, or step outside for a few deep breaths before your bedtime routine.
6. Nature as a Therapeutic Tool for Postpartum Well-being
The early weeks and months after having a baby can feel overwhelming. Many new moms experience stress, anxiety, or feelings of isolation during this time. Thankfully, research shows that being in nature can help. While there are nature-based programs designed to support mental health, few are made just for new moms, though they absolutely should be. In fact, one study suggests that simply understanding how moms experience nature could help create better support systems during the postpartum period.
Try this: Get outside with your baby, even if it's a few minutes on the the porch (make it easy). It will allow both of you to benefit from the calming effects of nature.
A Final Note: You Deserve to Feel Good
You do so much. And you carry so much.
Let this be your reminder that your well-being is important, too.
This May, we hope you find a few quiet moments with the earth. A place where the wind whispers you’re enough. A patch of sunlight that warms not just your skin, but your spirit.
You don’t need to change a thing. You don’t need to do more to be worthy of rest.
Just step outside. Nature’s already waiting.
From all of us at Wildelore, we see you. We celebrate you. And we’re always in your corner.
Happy Mental Health Month.
P.S. Looking to connect with other moms who love being outside?
Join our Mothers In Nature private Facebook group—a supportive space to share stories, ask questions, and find inspiration for your next breath of fresh air. We’d love to have you there.