"How Nature Resets Our Minds and Bodies" By Adam Alter
This piece in The Atlantic looks at a number of different studies exploring the benefits of nature on the mind and body. The first study took place in the 1970's at Paoli Memorial Hospital. Here, patients recovering from gallbladder surgery were found to recuperate faster when in a room with a view of nature. On the other hand, patients with a view of a brick wall required more pain medications, were reported as much more depressed, and took longer to recover than those with a view of nature. It was concluded that, "People who are exposed to natural scenes aren't just happier or more comfortable; the very building blocks of their physiological well-being also respond positively." Another study, in upstate New York, scored families homes on a scale of "naturalness" and found that children growing up in a more natural environment experienced less stress and were overall happier. The final study in this article asked 100 parents with a child who has ADD how their child reacted to various playtime activities. The study found, "It wasn't that the children who spent time outside were merely happier, more likely to interact with friends, or more active -- in fact, those who sat indoors, in a room with natural views, were calmer than children who played outside in man-made environments that were devoid of grass and trees." The reason for the results of all of these studies was explained simply as the fact that nature requires less from us. The hustle and bustle of urban environments is full of stimulation and demands directed attention, which tires us. Natural sights instead require involuntary attention which doesn't involve any mental effort. This explains how the wild allows us to feel refreshed and restored to a blissful state of being.
Looking at all of the studies explored in this article enables us to see a clear connection between natural environments and physical and mental well being. Nature is the cheapest and in some cases the most effective medicine the world can offer. Going outside for a while can remove the fog urban environments have put in our minds and allow us to take a break from society's persistent stressors. The constant requirement of direct attention that an urban environment demands negatively affects the way we function. It is healthy for the brain to be provided with a break from the ceaseless stimulation it is immersed in whenever we are in manmade environments. This break comes in the form of some time in a natural setting which will allow the brain to refresh and renew itself. The involuntary attention used around nature comes easily and instead of fatiguing you like directed attention, allows the body to heal itself more effectively from any physical or psychological damage. Sometimes when we are feeling down, all we need is a healthy dose of the wild.
Using nature as a form of healing is not just a theory with no results to back it up. The use of shinrin yoku, or forest bathing, as a form of medication is explained in the following artifact.
Looking at all of the studies explored in this article enables us to see a clear connection between natural environments and physical and mental well being. Nature is the cheapest and in some cases the most effective medicine the world can offer. Going outside for a while can remove the fog urban environments have put in our minds and allow us to take a break from society's persistent stressors. The constant requirement of direct attention that an urban environment demands negatively affects the way we function. It is healthy for the brain to be provided with a break from the ceaseless stimulation it is immersed in whenever we are in manmade environments. This break comes in the form of some time in a natural setting which will allow the brain to refresh and renew itself. The involuntary attention used around nature comes easily and instead of fatiguing you like directed attention, allows the body to heal itself more effectively from any physical or psychological damage. Sometimes when we are feeling down, all we need is a healthy dose of the wild.
Using nature as a form of healing is not just a theory with no results to back it up. The use of shinrin yoku, or forest bathing, as a form of medication is explained in the following artifact.