The next time you need a natural mood booster, look to the environment. There have been countless studies showing that nature boosts your mood and self-esteem. In fact, people saw the greatest self-esteem and mood changes after only five minutes of light-intensity outdoor activity.

Over the years, there has been a large disconnect in our society from nature. We are more industrialized and we don’t spend nearly as much time outside. I know firsthand how much better I feel when I take a midday walk. Just getting away from the office, getting some fresh air, getting some sunlight and allowing my mind to take a break does wonders.

If you can carve out as little as five minutes a day to reconnect with nature, I can almost guarantee a shift in your mood. And now that Fall is upon us, it’s the best time to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. My husband and I have started playing tennis together and even if we walk down to the courts and hit for only twenty minutes, it clears my mind and makes me feel rejuvenated. Of course it always helps when I beat him.

Here are some other ideas to get you started:

Guest blogger Leslie Gail is a Life Coach, Author, Host and Mom of two. She hosts a web show on Mom TV, contributes articles to Brooke Burke’s site Modern Mom, and has a passion for helping women create the best version of themselves. You can learn more about Leslie at her website www.newlifefocus.com, where there are also many free articles and resources to help you create your best life.