“A walk in the park may soothe the mind and, in the process, change the
workings of our brains in ways that improve our mental health, according to an interesting new study of the physical effects on the brain of visiting nature.” Gretchen Reynolds, The New York Times
A host of studies highlight the importance green and growing places on our mindset. But exactly how can a visit to a park — or even just looking at a green plant in our work space — shift our moods?
According to a one study there’s growing evidence that spending time in nature can boost our well-being. researchers decided to investigate how a walk might affect the constant replay of problems that we’ve all experienced. By tracking activity in that area of the brain before and after people spent time in nature, they tend insight into what degree nature literally changes people’s minds.
The results were impressive: Volunteers who strolled along quiet, leafy,
tree-lined paths showed less stress; their minds were soothed and they
experienced meaningful improvements in their mental health — their
“broodiness” scores were significantly lower than volunteers who
walked a long a busy highway with high levels of noise. The nature
walkers did not dwell on the negative issues as much after their walks as they did before their strolling. Their stress response was also quieter
What is it exactly about a walk in the park that’s soothing and almost instantly lifts our moods? It could be the greenery, the quiet, the sun, the smells, the relaxing activities we enjoy in this kind of setting. Whatever the source, it’s clear that one way to relax and calmly focus so we can boost our creativity is to be sure we get a healthy dose of greenery on a regular basis. A fun RX as we all write on!
