Why Nature is Good for You
On your journey to optimal health, pause for a moment and enjoy the landscape. Instinctively, you know why nature is good for you. People are drawn to the natural world. So, you’ve experienced firsthand the effects of nature on your well-being. Among other benefits, exposure to nature has been shown to improve healing time, depression, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018).
How does nature improve health?
Ulrich’s landmark study in 1984 was the first research to document that natural views and garden spaces in hospitals served as “positive distractions” resulting in calming and positive effects for patients, families, and employees. This involved looking at environments dominated with greenery, flowers or water for only three-to-five minutes. These effects included reduced stress, improved blood pressure, heart activity, brain activity and muscle relaxation. Fewer post-operative complications and shorter lengths of hospitalization where also realized (Ulrich, 1984).
Overall, nature can improve the health of our mind, body and soul as we experience its wonders through all of our senses. We see its vast beauty, smell its many delightful and varied fragrances, feel its varied textures and temperatures and hear limitless amazing organic sounds. Our connection with the natural world grounds, elevates, nurtures, and heals.
20 Reasons Why Nature is Good for You
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- Outdoor walks help depression, boost mood, and self-esteem
- Promotes Vitamin D production with natural sun exposure
- Increased compassion and consideration
- Increased cognitive function and memory performance; improved attention
- Reduce stress response – increases relaxation
- Faster healing
- Reduced stress and anxiety for patients and family
- Less pain and need for pain medication
- Improved sleep and restoration
- Reduced infection rates
- Improved attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Improved patient satisfaction
- Reduced staff stress and error
- Improved staff job satisfaction
- Increased staff retention and reduced turnover
- Increased operational efficiency
- Improved medical outcomes
- Increased creativity
- Increased market differentiation
- Improved consumer satisfaction and preference
10 Ways to Increase your Exposure to Nature
Some things you can do to enhance your access to the health promoting benefits of nature:
- spend time in natural settings
- bring animals indoors
- plant indoor and outdoor gardens
- light rooms naturally
- provide windows and doors with views of nature
- allow outside natural sounds in
- listen to recorded sounds of nature
- view nature shows on television or recordings
- hang nature photograph or artwork in our environments
Download Infographic: Why Nature is Good for You
In conclusion, being mindful of the natural world and natural beauty allows you the time and space to appreciate, as well as gain benefit from nature. Taking the time to look, focus, and appreciate the world around you can bring you peace. Being in our natural environment is life enhancing. Experiencing a brilliant iridescent sunset with rays extending across the horizon up through the clouds at the closing of a day can be exhilarating, peaceful, and life enhancing. These natural occurrences can entrance, nurture, comfort, and transform. You just need to remember why nature is good for you.
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Be well and enjoy!
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References:
- Twohig-Bennett, C. & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental Research, 166, 628–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030
- Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224, 420–421.