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Nature as Stimulant

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Photo by Roger Irwin.

In news that will come as no surprise to readers of Northern Woodlands, a team of psychologists has concluded that spending time in nature makes people feel more alive. A series of five studies published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that people reported feeling an increased level of vitality – greater physical and mental energy – during forays into the natural world.

“Nature is fuel for the soul,” said Richard Ryan, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and the lead author of the studies. “Often when we feel depleted, we reach for a cup of coffee, but this research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”

Ryan and his co-authors note that those with increased vitality aren’t just more energetic, they also feel healthier, cope better, and are less stressed and less vulnerable to illness. “One of the pathways to health may be to spend more time in natural settings,” he added.

While numerous studies have linked exposure to nature with increased energy and feelings of well-being, many of these results may instead be the feel-good spillover effects of the physical activity and social interactions that take place in natural settings. Ryan’s team was careful to control for these effects in their studies of 537 college students in actual and imagined contexts. In one experiment, participants were led on a 15-minute walk through tunnels or along a treelined river path. In another, subjects viewed photographs of buildings or landscapes. A third version required students to imagine themselves in a variety of situations, both active and sedentary, inside and out, and with and without others. Two final experiments tracked participants’ moods and energy levels throughout the day using diary entries.

Regardless of methodology, when people engaged in activities in natural surroundings or imagined themselves doing so, they reported feeling more energetic. The researchers found that spending as little as 20 minutes a day outside in nature was enough to significantly boost vitality levels. And while the data show that the nature in outdoor environments is vitalizing, other characteristics of being outdoors – including the presence of sunlight or fresh air or even the sense of openness – may provide an additional boost to one’s energy levels.

According to Ryan, people have a natural connection with living things and flourish in the natural world. “So having it be more a part of our lives is critical,” he said, “especially when we live and work in built environments.”

These studies may help to explain societal preferences for nature, such as people’s choices of vacation spots and their willingness to spend more money for land with a view of nature. They also underscore the importance of having access to parks and natural surroundings and incorporating natural elements into buildings.

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