Sustainability and Wellness

Bethesda fountain at Central Park in New York City

On a beautiful, sunny Tuesday afternoon, I found myself outside past 5 PM. The sun was still up, students at the university weren’t wearing jackets, and I thought to myself: it’s finally over. The cold weather has drifted away. No more snowstorms. No more freezing wind chills. People were outside, smiling, feeling free. 

Then, the weather took a turn. 

Suddenly, the temperature dropped. The warm air I had been enjoying vanished as a fast-moving cold front rolled in. It felt as cold as ice (maybe I’m exaggerating) but the shift had me thinking about how closely our emotions are tied to nature. 

Sunshine makes me happy. Rain or gray skies can make me feel sluggish or sad. I would suddenly prefer staying indoors, tucked into bed. While not everyone may feel this way all the time, most of us notice our moods shift with the weather. 

This connection between nature and emotions is exactly why ecosystem restoration can be so powerful. It’s not just for the environment, but for our mental health too. Getting outside to help restore a park, forest, or wet-land can give us hope, lift our spirits, and connect us to a community in meaningful ways. 

Restoration work doesn’t just heal nature, but it can strengthen our mental resilience, along with our ability to cope with stress or trauma. Research shows that being involved in these efforts can support our mind, and when we help the environment recover, we help ourselves too. 

Restoration work can boost our mental health by: 

1. Sense of Place: Spending time restoring an area that has historical meaning can make us feel more grounded

2. Optimism: Watching restoration succeed gives hope, showing that change is possible for collective action 

3. Social Networking: Working with others can help us build friendships and strengthen our community while learning teamwork 

When helping the environment, we’re also creating happier, more resilient communities. So the next time the weather starts to shift, remember that nature can shape how we feel. Stepping outside and contributing to restoration efforts can lift our moods, giving us a sense of hope for nature and our environment. 

Sources: 

Smith, Carter S., et al. “Beyond Despair: Leveraging Ecosystem Restoration for Psychosocial Resilience.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 122, no. 2, 2025, e2307082121, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2307082121