Nature Is Good For You

Jenny Cottle
                           
Last weekend watching a summer thunder storm build, I was in complete awe.  I was in awe with the rich greens caused by the light coming through the darkening, voluminous clouds, with the flashes of lightning and the screech of the cockatoos flying about as the storm was about to break and with the sun glistening through droplets of water on the plants after the storm had passed.  The beauty that I witnessed made my spirits soar.

Thinking about these beautiful moments I began to think about why I felt this way.  The natural world has always moved me.  I am lucky to have grown up in an area surrounded by bush and to have bushland around me where I live now, so its home with all the feelings that that brings.  But there has to be more to it than that.

I have also experienced these feelings when I have visited unspoilt natural places around Australia and overseas, and when I have had the privilege of getting close to animals.

An Australian Psychological Society position paper states, “the natural environment is a defining part of the Australian character and lifestyle and is integral to our quality of life.”  It goes on to say that, “the wellbeing and integrity of natural ecosystems are vital for human health”.  This is not simply because of the benefits of a healthy environment to humans physically, but it includes psychological benefits.

Studies have shown that spending time and experiencing the natural world has many advantages and that this experience has been referred to as fuel for the soul.

Numerous reports have linked exposure to nature with increased energy and an increased sense of wellbeing; vitality levels can be noticeably boosted by spending as little as 20 minutes outside in a natural environment.

Nature has a restorative effect on our mental abilities.  One study compared mental clarity; after completing a series of tasks designed to exhaust them mentally, some participants walked in an urban area, others sat quietly while reading and listening to music and others walked in a local nature preserve.

Following these actions participants had to partake in a proofreading task.  Not only did those who experienced nature outperform the others, they reported more positive emotions and less anger.

A report by Beyond Blue, Beyond Blue to Green, discusses the healing  effects of nature in restoring mental health and/or alleviating conditions as diverse as ADHD, stress disorders, depression, anxiety and disorders resulting from brain injury.

Exposure to the natural world has also shown to speed up recovery time from surgery and illness.  Studies have shown that patients with plants in their rooms had less pain medication, lower blood pressure, less anxiety and less fatigue than those without.

Studies have also shown that office workers with a view of nature like their jobs more, enjoy better health and have greater life satisfaction.

So it seems that all round nature is good for you.  It is then obvious that looking after nature is a win/ win – good for the planet, good for us.