Environment

Nature Can Help You Remain Positive Despite the News

Focusing on nature instead of chaotic events may bring us a sense of peace.

Posted October 24, 2023 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

Key points

Nature can be restorative and give people a sense of peace.
Nature can directly impact well-being.
It is healthy to take a break to enjoy the trees.

If our world were a giant garden, it seems the weeds have taken over and choked the flowers. Maintaining a positive attitude is challenging when we are experiencing the loss of individual rights, political anger, and news of wars.

Nature Is Restorative

However, in contrast to disturbing images, nature enthusiasts on social media remind us of nature's beauty. Inspiring photos of New England trees turning gold and red to colorful flowers in the West can brighten our day. Medical research, literature, and poetry remind us of how the beauty of nature can restore and strengthen us.

This year, the University of Cincinnati News emphasized the need for spending time out of doors under a blue sky and around grass and trees. Mladen Golubic, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health, reported that "prioritizing your wellness by spending time in nature promotes physical activity, engages your senses, encourages social interaction, and enhances well-being—all key elements keeping you healthy."

The Osher Center for Integrative Health comprises 11 academic health centers that study, teach, and practice integrative healthcare.

In “Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence” for the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Jimenez et al. reported that there is much research on natural environment interventions to evaluate the effects of nature on health from an experimental approach. The natural environment interventions include:

Active engagement: walking, running, or other activities
Passive engagement: resting outside or living with a view
Virtual exposure: watching videos or viewing images of nature

Essentially, people who spend time outdoors enjoying nature report better moods and better health.

It Is Healthy to Sit Under a Tree

Trees often symbolize resilience. In the United Kingdom, there is even a beautiful trees photo contest. The BBC reported that the “Tree of the Year 2023” is the Wrexham Sweet Chestnut. The Woodland Trust said the sweet chestnut was a symbol of the city's resilience, having survived "post-war plundering" and "dozens of deadly storms.

To derive the full benefits of being outdoors, here are suggestions derived from the University of Cincinnati:

Schedule regular "nature breaks" throughout your day, even for 10 minutes.
Try “green exercise" by moving your daily workout outdoors.
Take short walks. A recent study in Scientific Reports, Jan 20, 2023, noted that a short, leafy stroll improves working memory and concentration substantially more than completing the same brief walk inside.

Additionally, being outdoors gives you a free dose of vitamin D, improves your sleep, and helps you feel more alert.

Find a list of parks in your region, and try to visit these green gems. Or even walk around your neighborhood and locate a tree with a bench. Sit, revel in the moment, and express gratitude. And if you cannot get outdoors, bring greenery or images of natural spaces into your home and office, both of which have been shown to lower stress.

References

Boere, K., Lloyd, K., Binsted, G. et al. Exercising is good for the brain but exercising outside is potentially better. Sci Rep 13, 1140 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26093-2

Jimenez MP, DeVille NV, Elliott EG, Schiff JE, Wilt GE, Hart JE, James P. Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 30;18(9):4790. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094790. PMID: 33946197; PMCID: PMC8125471.15.