5 Surprising Reasons to Get Outside.
“We show that four days of immersion in nature, and the corresponding disconnection from multimedia and technology, increases performance on a creativity, problem-solving task by a full 50 percent!”
We all know the story…there’s a deadline or a project that is well overdue. You buckle down and skip lunches, breaks, and meetings to complete the task – but did you know there are better, healthier and enjoyable ways to get work done?
Research has shown that getting outside and into nature helps in a number of surprising and incredible ways! Not only will you become more productive, you’ll also reap these 5 amazing benefits listed below:
1. Improved short-term memory
A study conducted at University of Michigan gave tests to 2 groups of students before and after they took a walk. One group walked in the city while the other walked amongst trees after their initial tests. Test results discovered that those who had walked among trees did “almost 20% percent better than the first time. The ones who had taken in city sights instead did not consistently improve.”
Source: Psychological Science, 2008; Journal of Affective Disorders, 2013
2. Reduced inflammation
Inflammation is a natural process the body uses to respond to various threats but can also cause distress when inflammation runs amuck. The body has a hard time processing nutrients and more when in distress. Spending time in nature may help reduce inflammation.
Source: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 2012; Journal of Cardiology, 2012
3. Sharper thinking and creativity
Nature Therapy. A lot has been written on nature therapy and the results are stunning. Patients and people who immerse themselves in nature show boosted results in cognitive thinking, productivity and creativity. Even just 4 days in nature “boosted their performance on a creative problem-solving test by 50%.”
Source: Psychological Science, 2008; PLOS ONE, 2012
4. Reduced risk of early death
“The percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents,” concluded a Dutch study of 250,782 people.
Green spaces are also attributed to healing as stated by Cooper Marcus in Scientific American, “Let’s be clear,” Cooper Marcus says. “Spending time interacting with nature in a well-designed garden won’t cure your cancer or heal a badly burned leg. But there is good evidence it can reduce your levels of pain and stress—and, by doing that, boost your immune system in ways that allow your own body and other treatments to help you heal.”
Source: How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal, Scientific American, 2012
Source: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2006; Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2009; Biomedical and Environmental Sciences, 2012
5. Possible anti-cancer effects
While still in the earliest phases, preliminary studies are suggesting time spent in nature, especially forest, can help boost anti-cancer producing proteins that may last up to seven days after a relaxing trip into the woods.
Source: International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2007; International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2008; Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 2008; The Open Public Health Journal, 2008
More health benefits available at: www.businessinsider.com.
Join an outdoor club and start hiking!
More information available at:
www.campbum.com
