Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri 
If life was a long journey, stress would be the heavy backpack we all carry. Some days it feels light, almost unnoticeable. Other days it’s so crushing we can barely take a step forward. Nature therapy is like finding a safe resting place on that journey, where you can set the backpack down, breathe, and feel the weight lift.
In our technology-driven world, stress has become the default setting. We live in concrete jungles, move from one air-conditioned box to another, and scroll through more screens than sunsets. Yet, just beyond our front doors lies a free, powerful antidote: nature.
The Science of the Green Prescription
Nature therapy, or ecotherapy, is not just about admiring pretty landscapes. It is the intentional practice of connecting with the natural world to improve mental and physical health.
Research from the University of Exeter shows that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature significantly boosts mood, lowers anxiety, and even improves sleep quality. Nature works like a reset button for the brain reducing the stress hormone cortisol, slowing heart rate, and calming the nervous system.
In my psychiatric work, I’ve seen patients with burnout improve simply by walking in green spaces for 20 minutes a day. Nature is not a luxury; it is a medicine we’ve forgotten to take.
How Nature Melts Stress
Think of stress as static noise in your brain—emails, traffic jams, bills, arguments. Nature acts like a skilled sound engineer, turning down the volume until you can hear yourself think again.
· Visual Calm: Greenery and open skies signal to the brain that you are in a safe environment, reducing the fight-or-flight response.
· Auditory Peace: Birds singing, leaves rustling, waves crashing—these natural sounds trigger relaxation in the brain.
· Sensory Grounding: The feeling of grass under your feet or sun on your skin brings you into the present moment, away from anxious thoughts.
The Nigerian Context – Nature is Closer Than You Think
Many Nigerians hear “nature therapy” and imagine expensive safaris or remote hiking trails. But nature is not far, it’s in the morning walk through your neighborhood, under the shade of a mango tree, or along the quiet stretch of a local beach.
In Lagos, you can stroll through LUFASI Nature Park or simply sit under a tree in Freedom Park. In Abuja, take in the trails of Millennium Park. In Enugu, walk along the Ngwo Pine Forest. Rural areas already offer nature’s abundance, rolling farmlands, riverbanks, and fresh evening air.
Nature therapy is not about escaping your country; it’s about rediscovering it.
Practical Ways to Make Nature Your Stress-Relief Habit
You don’t need hours or expensive gear—just consistent, intentional time outside.
1. Morning Sunlight Ritual – Spend 10 minutes outside each morning to boost mood and regulate sleep cycles.
2. Green Lunch Break – Eat your lunch in a garden, park, or under a tree.
3. Weekend Nature Walks – Swap one shopping trip for a beach, lake, or forest visit.
4. Mindful Nature Moments – Pause to notice the colors of the sky, the patterns of leaves, or the sound of the wind.
5. Community Green Spaces – Join or create local gardening or walking groups.
Nature and Longevity
Spending time outdoors doesn’t just improve today’s mood, it protects tomorrow’s health. People who regularly engage with nature have lower rates of heart disease, depression, and premature death.
In Japan, a practice called shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing” is prescribed to reduce stress and improve immunity. Nigeria can adapt this wisdom, integrating nature time into workplace wellness programmes, schools, and urban planning.
Why Nature Therapy Works When Other Things Fail
Meditation apps and spa days have their place, but nature offers something deeper: it reconnects you to the rhythms of life itself. The sun rises and sets without hurry. Trees grow without competing. Rivers flow without forcing their path. Immersing yourself in these patterns teaches your body and mind to slow down, breathe, and let go.
Nature therapy is the cheapest, most accessible form of stress relief available to every Nigerian—from the busy banker in Victoria Island to the farmer in Jos. You don’t need to travel far, buy special equipment, or spend money. You simply need to step outside, open your senses, and let nature do what it has been doing for millions of years—heal.
The next time life feels heavy, remember sometimes the cure is not in a pill bottle or a doctor’s office—it’s under the open sky, waiting for you.
Dr. MAYMUNAH YUSUF KADIRI (aka DR. MAY) popularly referred to as “The Celebrity Shrink,” is a multiple award winning Mental Health Physician, Advocate & Coach. She is the convener of “The Mental Health Conference” and the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-In-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, Dr. Kadiri is a dynamic Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and a Fellow of the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych) with almost 20 years’ experience as a practicing Physician.