The effects of nature on mental and physical health
The Pathways Programme, National Learning Network, Mallow again has its finger on the pulse encouraging their students to partake in gardening and community environmental projects in schools and local communities in the North Cork Area.
Nature Heals
Being in nature, or viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Gardening leads to measurable psychological, physiological, and behavioural benefits, such as reduced anxiety, depression, lower blood pressure and improves the immune system. In fact, the study called ‘Dirt on Dirt’ found that physically touching the earth triggered a relaxation response in the body. Research done in hospitals, offices, and schools has found that even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on stress and anxiety. Plus exposure to natural light promotes the production of vitamin D which has proven wellbeing effects.
Nature connects
According to a series of field studies conducted by Kuo and Coley at the Human-Environment Research Lab, time spent in nature connects us to each other and the larger world. This leads to increased social integration, friendship and personal value.
Nature aids concentration
Furthermore, time in nature increases our ability to pay attention. Because humans find nature interesting, we naturally focus on what we are experiencing. This provides respite for overactive minds, refreshing us for new tasks.
In another interesting area, Andrea Taylor’s research on children with ADHD shows that time spent in nature increases their attention span.
“Nature deprivation”
The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting children’s exposure to screens including computers, television, hand-held devices, and video game, to two hours per day. Long term exposure has serious consequences, including obesity, behavioural problems, irregular sleep, violent tendencies, poor academic performance, and loss of creativity. Studies by Weinstein and others that associate screen time with loss of empathy and lack of altruism are even more worrying. In our experience similar effects apply to adults.
Instead, encourage engagement with nature, whether that’s playing an outdoor sport, reading next to a window, or taking a walk around the block or gardening.
Nature solutions
To view the natural world as a partner within education, wellbeing management and recovery is vital going forward. According to Dr Miles Richardson, head of psychology at the University of Derby, who told BBC Earth “There is a need to normalise everyday nature as part of a healthy lifestyle,”. ‘ The real challenge for the future is how we get more people involved, knowing what we do about the very real benefits of nature.’
National Learning Network Pathways Mallow applies up to date research on wellbeing and training methods in the delivery of its programme including exposure to the benefits of nature. Currently Pathways is recruiting for its year long programme, starting in August 2017. Pathways has over 16 years experience in working with trainees and have year on year seen the therapeutic effect of nature in action.
For more information on Pathways please log on to www.nln.ie or phone 0876677002. Interviews taking place in June onwards By Pathways tutors Marian Ward, Joanna O’Leary and Susan Edwards.