What you need to be Happier, Healthier and More Creative
As I was reading the book “The Nature Fix – Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative” by Florence Williams
To show stressed and overwhelmed individuals that nature can be their greatest teacher.
As I was conducting backyard experiments to understand the relationship between personal growth, nature and stress, in particular men and women in leadership positions, Williams was scooting across the world gathering data for me. Well she wasn’t doing it for me exactly, she was spurred on to know more about the relationship between nature and the human brain after her own experience and her timing was perfect.
The way Williams writes “The Nature Fix” is a pure indulgence for the senses and this is clever given the message she is sharing. In the various chapters Williams takes the reader forest bathing in Japan, backpacking through the wilderness, rafting down the Idaho River, to ghettos in Glasgow, universities to plug into virtual reality sessions and into the homes of the Finnish and Singaporeans.
Along the journey the reader is in the company of psychologists (from all disciplines), neuroscientists, naturalists, social workers, once burnt out professionals, advocates, skeptics and men and women suffering from PTSD and other stress induced illness. Williams relays concisely the strong views for and against debated topics and evidence stacking up to support the argument for nature and wellbeing.
It is a very exciting time to be advocating the wisdom of nature.
David Strayer, a neuroscientist at the University of Utah is very clear in his mission. “My goal for the next ten years is to do to nature what he (Art Kramer) did to exercise and cognition.”
“Something profound is going on.” David Strayer
The curiosity of the natural world and its relationship with human productivity is not a new concept. One only needs to delve into inspired the works of many great leaders, poets, artists, philosophers, scientists and musicians to find an intuitive alignment with the nature world. Similarly they attribute time spent in natural landscapes, an escape from urbanisation, as a way to clear the mind and think clearly. What many people have innately felt drawn to for centuries is gathering momentum in research labs and scientific papers.
“How happy I am to be able to walk among the shrubs, the trees, the woods, the grass and the rocks! For the woods, the trees and the rocks give man the resonance he needs.”
The question we ask is why are researchers interested in the impact of the natural world on the brain now?
Perhaps it is because:
There is an increase in chronic ailments such as myopia, vitamin D deficiency, loneliness, anxiety, obesity and stress made worse by spending time indoors.
In 2008 the World Health Organisation reported for the first time that more people were living in urban areas than rural.
Children spend half as much time outdoors as their parents did and seven hours a day on screens (excluding school time).
Read on to understand the effect of nature on cognitive, emotional and physiological functions.
“The Nature Fix” invites the reader to consider their evolutionary beginnings, to look into how humans evolved to survive and ask questions around what adaptations were made in order to life a fulfilled life. How is it we know what harm looks like, why do we retreat to bush settings or beach-side shacks to induce calm and why do our children hug stuffed bears to fall asleep? Is it reasonable to suggest biologically our systems are tuned into our surroundings because we evolved to avoid harm, recover from stress and feel joy and comfort?
““The biophilia hypothesis posits that peaceful or nurturing elements of nature helped us regain equanimity, cognitive clarity empathy and hope.” Florence Williams”
Williams introduces the reader to the biophilia hypothesis and cleverly demonstrates how one quarter of Japanese are using the basis of its hypothesis as a practice to unwind.
Biophilia is the word to define the connection humans has with their natural surroundings, evolving from nature our nervous systems are built to respond to cues from our surroundings.
Shinrin yoku is a practice that allows nature into the body through all five senses and Japanese businessmen arrive by the minivan full to prevent dropping dead from being overworked. Forest bathing is where one walks through designated forests in order to lower their blood pressure, cortisol and heart rate readings.
The Koreans are also sniffing hard as their work expectations hit unprecedented hours and children are not unplugging. More than 70% of South Koreans report their jobs make them depressed.
It is the vapour from the hinoki cypress forests that is showing up as an effective therapy for anxiety and addictions.
In addition tree aerosols increase the levels of immune fighting cells by 40% for seven days.
Studies have shown a direct relationship between inhaling the vapour (released from the trees) to the number of cells. This is a great way to counteract doses of urban pollution.
Moving through the senses Williams explores the effect sound has on the brain and body. Again Williams places herself as the subject for many of the reported experiments and presents great content for me to use with my 13 year old against the case of using air pods. There is also a great conversational piece to share with friends exploring the reason why ‘Twitter’ is aptly named after birdsong.
There is a direct correlation between background noise and hypertension. For every 10-decibel increase in night time noise there was a 14% rise in hypertension.
Exactly how does a room with a green view and the secret code held within Jackson Pollock’s art contribute to an improvement in healing times, decrease in crime rates and overall stress reduction? According to Williams the answer involves words such as visual cortex, fractals and parahippocampus. Pick up the book to understand more or hold out for the blog post “Why Pay More for a Room with a View” where I’ll dissect the synergy between nature images and our visual system.
Williams moves her attention to Finland where the recommended nature dose is 5 hours per month. For a bit of perspective Finland was urbanised only 50 – 60 years ago, making their link to the land, primarily forests, still very relevant. It is therefore reasonable to hear 95% of Finns spend time participating in outdoor recreational activities. This involves anything from picking berries to bike riding to Nordic skiing.
As for the population 70% are regular hikers and I’m feeling lazy right about now, as this is a contrast to 30% in other western countries.
In my opinion Finland is definitely a country to watch because as they become more urbanised the stat’s change. Already rates of depression are increasing and there appears to be no immunity to generations finding bright screens more appealing than picking mushrooms with the grandparents. Ho hum! It is no wonder the government is pouring money into finding solutions to minimise health care costs while utilising the vast forest scapes.
After all with such a small population they cannot afford people to burn out, because who will replace them?
Singapore spends 200 million Singapore dollars per year to develop its scenery and Scotland has a goal to increase its woodland from 17% to 25% because of government guidelines. All in all they want people to be in better moods, better health and more connected to the nature world.
“If I was a betting man, I’d be betting on the fact that the prefrontal cortex is not in overload in nature.” David Strayer
Williams writes in such a way that she invites the reader into her life. As a reader we understand her personal journey that had her enquire into the connection between nature and the human brain. Williams writes as if she is sharing her adventures with you around the campfire. Every time I continued reading I imagined I was catching up with Williams to hear of her travel adventures in the company of Harvard and Berkley professors, revelations and scientific outcomes. So it was only natural that I write to Williams and express my gratitude for the time she spent with me. Yes! She wrote back, a personal letter from Florence – I was super excited.
This book is great to share with your boss if you are trying to qualify:
Walking meetings
Work travel with a side of nature inspiration for inspiring creativity
An office desk with a view to the outdoors for workplace wellbeing
A self-development and workplace wellbeing program called Project GROW
A wellbeing day rather than a sick day for personal growth
There is a plethora of global research within “The Nature Fix”, and I have only commented on the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot of interest in this topic and Williams has been thorough in her presentation of nature immersions from small doses to more protracted and sustained periods in wild country.
So what to do next? Simple! Follow the Nature Pyramid
The Nature Pyramid is a concept as promoted by Tim Beatley who runs the Biophilic Cities Project at the University of Virginia.
“Go outside, often, sometimes in wild places. Bring friends or not. Breathe.”
Are you ready to try out the influence of nature on your own wellbeing? I have a feeling this just the beginning of a new but very old way of thinking and doing. So now take the pyramid and implement the daily and weekly suggestions. Scribble over your 2019 calendar and plan your monthly and yearly pursuits in nature. When you begin to follow the principles of the NATURE PYRAMID get in touch as I’d love to hear how it goes for you and your cortisol levels.
And why not be the one in your organisation to initiate the nature revolution at your work place?
Helping you learn wisdom from nature,
Donna Zaffino, Founder, Project Grow Global
www.projectgrow.com.au
donna@projectgrow.com.au