Nature is powerfully positive for your work and your life.
Nature has long been connected to happiness, fulfillment and a general sense of well-being. But new research finds that there are major ways nature can contribute to your experiences at work and in life. Based on the science of what matters most, you can make the most of the waning summer season and prepare to be nurtured by nature in every season.
For some, nature can be part of your work. If you have a job where you can work remotely, taking a call from the park or doing a walking meeting can be great strategies. But even if your work doesn’t lend itself to a natural experience, when you have greater happiness outside of work, it can increase your perception of overall satisfaction, both at work and in life.
How Nature Matters
New science finds the key elements of nature that contribute most significantly to your happiness and well-being. To see also : Small towns can sell their lifestyle, not just their jobs. A comprehensive analysis just published in Science Advances included 301 separate studies in 62 countries (wow!).
The research identified many ways in which nature affects people. It can contribute significantly to your cognition and the quality of your thinking. It can help you feel more connected to the people around you and even inspire better communication. It can also help you feel more creative and can help you develop, in terms of your character and confidence. There is also evidence that nature can make you more reflective and give you a sense of renewal. And it can help you tap into your intuition and feel more inspired to move forward.
The Power of Nature
From these benefits of nature, three key strategies emerged: ways to harness the power of nature to improve both your work and your life.
Aesthetics and Exercise for Mental and Physical Health
The biggest benefits of nature, according to research, are mental and physical health because many people experience nature as restorative, providing a sense of awe and meaning. And it’s also a place to exercise and enjoy the natural beauty. This may interest you : High Tech on the Low Episode # 58: AI Art and NFT. Experiences of awe and flow are more common in nature and tend to take you out of yourself.
Neuroscience research highlighted in The Happiness Hypothesis finds that experiences of awe and flow are associated with reduced activity in parts of the brain that are vigilant and self-focused. And studies at the University of California found that awe-inspiring experiences led to the release of proteins called cytokines that had positive effects on happiness, well-being and creativity. Feeling small in relation to the immensity of nature provides perspective, and appreciating the intricacies of a butterfly’s wing can free you from preoccupation with yourself. Focusing more on the big picture tends to predict positive experiences.
The sights, sounds and smells of nature can energize you.
You can tap into these benefits by going into nature and focusing on its physical aspects: shapes, smells, sounds, textures, and sights (known as “form” to researchers). Enjoy the shape of the mountains or feel the breeze in your hair. Enjoy the scent of flowers or the ocean. Do it as part of your leisure activities or when you’re hanging out between meetings. You can also take advantage of nature by exercising outdoors, whether you’re taking a leisurely walk or training for a marathon.
Enjoy nature in your time away from work or make nature a part of your daily commute by biking instead of driving. If you have some flexibility in your work, make a call from a park or have a low-pressure meeting on a bench on your neighborhood nature trail.
The bottom line is that more nature is better, and making nature a part of your day or week will contribute to your physical and mental well-being.
Connectedness and Belonging
Another significant benefit of nature, according to the study, is based on a greater sense of community. To see also : Norwegian Library with countless books. Feeling part of a group and a sense of belonging are central to well-being, and these are among the most important ways in which nature nurtures people.
Isolation and loneliness are at an all-time high, and this translates into depression, anxiety and mental health issues. People have taken friction out of their lives and increased convenience, with regular deliveries removing the experience of chatting with the cashier, apps replacing barista interaction, or working from home reducing side conversations or links between meetings. But it turns out that moments of surface interactions contribute to happiness and well-being, and so do deeper opportunities for connection. Whether people are introverts or extroverts, a certain amount of connection is necessary and fundamental to all types of health.
Nature creates the opportunity for community and togetherness, called “cultural practices” by scientists. You can make nature a part of your positive experience by making time to play outside together with a child, have a picnic with your group, or get together to pull weeds in the community garden, anything where the nature brings you closer to others.
Use nature as a catalyst for all kinds of interaction, from meditating in the park with friends on a weekend to suggesting a meeting on foot with a colleague. Nature can nurture connections, and both nature and community are linked to overall well-being.
When nature motivates learning, it contributes to happiness and satisfaction.
Learning
Perhaps most surprisingly, nature is also linked to well-being because it tends to motivate learning and the development of new abilities. Scientists call these nature-based “intellectual practices.” When you interact with others to investigate or learn about nature, or when you think about or explore ecosystems with others, they contribute to your well-being.
Learning is correlated with happiness, according to many studies, including this one from San Francisco State University in particular. In addition, research from the University of California Davis finds that curiosity is beneficial because it contributes to openness and fulfillment, so when nature motivates learning, it is very positive.
Use nature as a springboard for your curiosity and learning. Walk through the woods and wonder how the trees stay resilient. Spend time on top of a mountain and be curious about the impact of perspective on problem solving. Contribute to your company’s ESG efforts or volunteer for a project that seeks innovations inspired by the way nature solves problems.
In Sum
One of the benefits of the last couple of years has been a greater awareness of the importance of holistic wellness. Work can be a source of joy, and many other experiences are also part of a great life experience. Whether it’s part of your work day or your time outside of work duties, nature can fuel your sense of wonder, your feelings of belonging, and your brilliance; so get out and find as much time in nature as you can, now and inside. every season
How can nature help us?
Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, but it contributes to your physical well-being by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the production of stress hormones. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell.
What are the benefits of nature? Can:
- improve your mood.
- reduce feelings of stress or anger.
- it will help you take time and feel more relaxed.
- improve your physical health.
- improve your confidence and self-esteem.
- help you be more active.
- help you meet and meet new people.
- connect with your local community.
What are the benefits of nature to humans?
These studies have shown that time in nature, as long as people feel safe, is an antidote to stress: it can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce system arousal nervous, improve immune system function, increase self-esteem. , reduce anxiety and improve mood.
Why being in nature makes us happier?
Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and behavior, helping us reduce anxiety, meditation and stress, and increase our attention span, creativity and our ability to connect with other people.
Why do humans enjoy being in nature? Nature has been shown time and time again to reduce depression, anxiety, stress and anger, as well as generally increase psychological well-being. Nature can help make you feel happier and more content as a person, which can improve many areas of your life.
Why does being outside make you happy?
Lowers blood pressure and reduces stress â Spending time walking among trees or simply looking at trees lowers blood pressure and reduces the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Improves mood â Researchers have found that nature simply makes us happy.
Why is it important to care about nature?
A clean environment is essential for a healthy life: the more we don’t care about our environment, the more it becomes polluted with pollutants and toxins that have a harmful impact on our health. Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases and cancer, among other problems and diseases.
How important is the natural environment to you in your daily life? Our environment provides a wide range of benefits, such as the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink, as well as the many materials needed in our homes, work and leisure activities.
Why is nature important for us paragraph?
Nature is made of everything we see around us: trees, flowers, plants, animals, sky, mountains, forests and more. Human beings depend on nature to stay alive. Nature helps us breathe, gives us food, water, shelter, medicine and clothing. We find many colors in nature that make the Earth beautiful.
Why is nature and the environment important?
Natural spaces help clean the air, purify water, produce food and medicine, reduce chemical and noise pollution, curb flooding and freshen our streets. We call this work ecosystem services.
