The Effect of Views of Nature
If you read this blog often, the fact that nature has a positive impact on us will not be news. Coulthard outlines research which has correlated views of nature with
Improved recovery in hospital,
Better performance at school, and
Less aggression.
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We have also found that exercise in natural environment generates
Feelings of positive engagement,
Greater feelings of revitalisation,
Reduced tension,
Decreased anger and depression and increased energy.[1]
Read more about green exercise here (The Benefits of Green Exercise).
One of the more amazing findings was that for improvements in self-esteem and mood, the greatest improvement occurred in the first 5 minutes…yes FIVE MINUTES! This suggests that the effects are almost immediate.[2]
This aligns with Coulthard’s proposal that even short bursts of nature like looking through a window or at a picture of nature seems to
Relax people,
Increase concentration,
Reduce stress, and
Decrease blood pressure.
She outlines how looking at trees or water for just 3-5 minutes can
Increase relaxation,
Reduce anxiety,
Reduce anger, and
Reduce pain.
So even small glimpses of nature can help our mind and body. Next week we will look at how to include these glimpses in our homes.
[1] Thompson Coon, J., Boddy, K., Stein, K., Whear, R., Barton, J., & Depledge, M. H. (2011). Does participating in physical activity in outdoor natural environments have a greater effect on physical and mental wellbeing than physical activity indoors? A systematic review. Environmental science & technology, 45(5), 1761-1772.
[2] Barton, J., & Pretty, J. (2010). What is the best Addose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis. Environmental science & technology, 44(10), 3947-3955.
So despite putting ourselves in small apartments in crowded cities, our brains are still affiliated with nature.
Research has shown that we prefer pictures of the environment. Things like the
Jungle,
Desert,
Mountain,
Forests etc.
Out of these, we prefer pictures of savannas the best, though.[i] This called the ‘savana preference’.
Photo by czekma13/iStock / Getty Images
It is thought that this is due to our early ancestors living in Africa.
It is also thought that natural views helps us to rest our minds from the constant inputs of our busy days.
Conclusion
We have only recently surrounded ourselves in dense urban areas and our minds are still drawn toward the natural environment from which we came. We like natural scenes but especially prefer pictures of the savanna. Over the next weeks we will look at how views affect us and how to bring them into our homes.
[i] Balling and Falkin cited in Coulthard.