Day Five: Connect to Nature

Researchers have long known that nature is restorative and thankfully, in this time, outside is one of the few places that are 100% ok to be. Unless you live in the very middle of the very biggest cities in our world, you have access to nature, whether that be through a park, or even just watching birds through your window.

When I was in undergraduate, I had to take some non-major requirements and I chose a class on how physical space can affect our brains. As the professor talked about the use of nature to promote mental health, he remarked that we don’t fully know why but one theory is that nature induces fascination, which is the opposite of concentration.

Concentration is forced focus. We know we need to pay attention and so we berate, bribe or occasionally caffeinate our brains into doing it. Fascination is not only unforced focus, but focus we can’t get control. When something fascinates us, our brains take over, giving our executive functions a break for awhile. Nature is so appealing to the human brain. Mostly predictable, with moments of surprise. Elements of interest interspersed with peaceful input to all of our senses. It’s a recipe designed to help us calm down.

Can you interact with nature today? Can you get your hands in some dirt or take a walk through a park? What fascinates you and gives your brain a break?