A case for spending more time in Nature
Being immersed in the natural world can do wonders for the cluttered mind. Even small reductions in overall anxiety can have noticeable effects on your quality of life. Being outside more can begin to reverse some of the negative effects of our reliance on technology. Time in nature can also help us restore our ability to focus on various tasks. Below is the basic concept of Attention Restoration Theory.
Being outdoors restores more than diminished attention. Colors regain vibrancy, patterns pop, and what was once nuance now jumps into view. Depth becomes deeper and desires surface as if awakening from slumber. We naturally engage with such an enlivened scene, and this then describes a restoration of attention, curiosity, inherent perceptual skill, and sensuality. (Sewall, 2012)
A study done by Kaplan and Kaplan (1989) obtained information that showed an increase in happiness with one’s job, home, and overall life when exposed to nature. This type of change in perspective can have a great benefit to productivity in the workforce, and within society on a larger scale. Finding time to spend in nature during therapy or outside of therapy can have wonderful effects and help you integrate the work you are doing on yourself. The following are some ways to begin to build a relationship with or get back in touch with nature:
Go to a park or open space area (search in your maps app for ‘Open space near me’ and find a new spot!)
Grow a garden, get plants for your own space indoors, join a community garden
Find time to take pictures of the sunrise and sunset on a day off
Go on a nature walk or visit an animal sanctuary
Find a special space outdoors and return during different seasons
Adopt a dog
If you are interested in learning more about these concepts or would like more information about the benefits of nature, I would be happy to connect to discuss more!
