Over the last couple of years more and more research is supporting what many of us have always felt – Nature is good for us! Here, we have put together a bunch of resources which speak to the powerful ways in which interacting with nature has holistic advantages to our well-being.
a. Nature and Us: The University of Minnesota has put together a comprehensive yet friendly guide to human engagement with nature. It not only lists the benefits; it provisions a questionnaire which tells you if you are nature deprived and allows you to work through setting goals for a healthier lifestyle; shares stories from people who have benefited from changing their lives; and, lists methods and ways in which we can improve our time with nature.
b. The Positive Effects Of Nature On Your Mental Well-Being: This long-read covers the entire gamut of topics around nature and mental well-being. From covering the research, importance, benefits and methods – it maps it all in an easy readable manner.
c. Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health: Published at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, this recent article covers how ‘A growing body of research points to the beneficial effects that exposure to the natural world has on health, reducing stress and promoting healing. Now, policymakers, employers, and healthcare providers are increasingly considering the human need for nature in how they plan and operate.’
d. Six Ways Nature Helps Children Learn: The Greater Good Science Centre at Berkley tells us how spending time in nature helps kids do better in school, in a number of surprising ways.
e. 5 Ways Being In Nature Changes Your Brain, According To Science: This easy read from The Bustle shares in brief some of the prominent outcomes from the research on nature and its effects on human beings.