Coronavirus closure: Can nature help improve our mood?

At a time when many of us face a great sense of threat, as well as deep concerns about our future, can nature uplift our spirits?

“Our current crisis has changed us from normal existence to survival mode,” says Dr. Anna Jorgensen, who investigates the connection between environment and well-being at the University of Sheffield.

“We don’t look so immortal anymore,” she says.

With many more people unable to work, or working from home, many have been inspired to explore nature in their neighborhood while concentrating on their immediate surroundings.

As summarized by an Instagram user: “[It] take a block to find new ways from home. I escaped from the ‘office’ to follow the Trent River that wound its way down the floodplain at the end of our trail, past old, gnarled tree stumps and a statuesque heron. ”

As emissions from factories and cars have decreased, there are fewer tiny particles in the air, making it easier to see beyond urbanized areas and stars in the night sky. Less city noise also highlights the sounds of birds.

There is also an increased interest in gardening. Google Trends shows a doubling of global online searches for compost and seeds compared to a year ago.

Can experiences in nature help us manage stress and anxiety?

Although the impact of experiencing nature on our physical health is less documented, a large number of studies have shown the positive effects of the natural world on our mental health.

Even a brief solution from nature (10 minutes of wind blowing on our cheeks or the sun on our skin) can reduce stress, explains Dr. Mathew White of the University of Exeter.

If we immerse ourselves in beautiful landscapes, such as a rich coast or a wild forest full of species, we feel more intense emotions, he adds.

Connecting with nature can help us feel happier and more energetic, with a greater sense of meaning and purpose, as well as making tasks seem more manageable.

Dr. Gretchen C Daily of Stanford University in the United States uses this evidence to help the World Bank and city governments around the world develop policies to integrate the natural environment into our urban landscapes.

Nature-based activities such as gardening and agriculture have been used as part of mental health treatments worldwide for centuries.

General practitioners in London, Liverpool and Dorset have been prescribing nature experiences for patients with depression and anxiety. These include a healthy walk or planting mint to nourish and grow.

Evidence indicates that you can also benefit from “bathing” in nature remotely. One experiment installed large plasma screens of natural scenes in real time outside an office, resulting in people’s connection to their broader social community and the growing natural world.

Sounds have a particular power to evoke memory, according to PhD researcher Alex Smalley.

Therefore, your feelings can be enhanced by listening to recordings of natural sounds, such as the waves or squawks of forest birds, after you have experienced them in person or seen a powerful movie or show that features that landscape.

Dr. Jorgensen believes that seeing the recurring rhythms and rebirth of nature, in which plants and animals survive despite the harshness of winter, can also offer us hope and help us deal with the tragedies in our lives.

Why does nature have such a positive effect?

Part of nature’s power lies in its ability to remove anything that causes a lot of stress, explains Dr. Daily.

Slow movements, like water ripples or clouds moving across the sky, effortlessly demand our working memory, but enough to distract us from spiraling rumination, self-blame, and hopelessness.

Researchers call this ability to hold our attention the “soft fascination” of nature.

Caring for a plant helps us appreciate the power we have to nurture, and gives us a sense of accomplishment when the plant blooms, which Dr. Jorgensen says is particularly important to those struggling with their mental health.

Tips to experience more nature

According to Dr. White, the benefits are maximized if we can spend a total of two hours a week connecting with nature. The more senses we use, not only sight and sound, but also smell, feel and taste, the greater the benefits.

The advice of the contributing experts includes:

• Regularly visit a tree near where you live to see changes in leaves, flowers, or seeds. Do you visit private birds? Does its bark harbor lichen, moss, or insects?
• Open a window to catch the sound of leaves or the scent of fresh rain.
• Walk early in the morning, or before sunset, when warm colors and a low angle of light highlight the textures of the natural world, including tree trunks and leaves.
• Plant seeds, using ones you find on fruit or near trees if you can’t get a pack. Watercress seeds grow quickly on kitchen paper, without soil or a pot.
• Think of nature when you’re cooking, savoring the bright colors and tart flavors of fruits like red currants. When you inhale your morning coffee, imagine the rainforest birds that help cross-pollinate coffee plants.
• Incorporate natural design elements into your home, hanging branches or twigs on your walls, or stacking rounded stones with water on a shelf or windowsill.
• Try the National Trust site ideas 50 things to do before turning 11 and three-quarters. Many are possible despite social distancing and whatever our age.

Further research by Kate Provornaya