I love being close to nature and will seek any place I can find that good-feeling connection. I have felt great standing in a huge palatial forest or at a smaller nature preserve, or making a discovery in a small park surrounded by concrete in a large city; always in my backyard, or even from the color tone of a single plant in a pot next to the monitor on the desk. I always seem to come away feeling more relaxed and grounded, with an improved mood to carry the rest of the day.
I wondered whether there are many studies on how nature immersion affects others, especially with folks who experience different forms of daily stress. To write about this topic, I just needed to make some time to seek out science-backed information instead of just relying on anecdotal information.
I was pleased to find numerous empirical studies on the benefits of nature. One article about UC Davis’s Ecological Medicine research explains “health benefits from nature are not just anecdotal — they are supported by science — and that fostering deep connections with the natural world is a proactive, preventive approach to health that can be integrated into public health policy and urban design.” https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/new-field-ecological-medicine-emphasizes-health-benefits-connectedness
I also watched an interesting California Native Plant Society presentation with guest speaker Haven Kiers, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, UC Davis. Her research is quite extensive and involves cultural acceptance of green infrastructure and sustainable design. Her presentation topic was on gardening design for California native plants and covered sustainability, biodiversity, health and well-being, and aesthetics. I focused on the Health & Wellbeing section, which includes a discussion on how nature has a positive influence on people. Her video presentation can be found at https://youtu.be/7pUTwQhAm1E.
One of the many classes Haven Kiers teaches is called Nature Rx: The Healing Power of Nature. In this class, she focuses on the science-based benefits of nature and how spending time outside helps:
- Improve cognitive ability, specifically by boosting your ability to concentrate and increasing your attention span.
- Positively benefit mood and improve the sense of overall happiness.
- Reduce feelings of and physiological responses to stress.
- Increase the number of social connections and the quality of social relationships.
- Boost physical health and wellbeing.
I have found each of these points to be true in finding my own sense of peace each day. I hope that others find the same, especially if you are encountering one of those impossible days.
