There are many advantages of being in nature. When we are in nature, we are free to explore or play and it grants us a moment of serenity. When you think about a relaxing atmosphere, what comes to mind?
We may have different ideas about what relaxes us. New studies identify advantages of seeing signs of nature around us. Of course, the idea that natural landscapes offer wellness benefits is nothing new, even city planning notes from hundreds of years ago emphasize the “soothing and tranquilizing effect” of outdoor scenery. But what makes the experience of gazing upon natural elements universally appealing? For example, how is the experience of walking in a city or urban area different from being in nature?
The answer may be related to the shapes and patterns that we see.
Natural scenes are packed full of fractals. These are repetitive patterns that are present in images of plant life, shells and snowflakes. Trees are an excellent example because as you view the details of every branch, you can see repeating patterns and iterative shapes. In contrast, human-made structures are usually based on boxes and 90-degree angles. Compared to seeing images of nature that were packed with fractals, the cubes, lines, and boxes of modern urban environments do not spark joy. Even in research according to recent research.
The brain responds favorably to scenes that have plenty of fractals, and it happens rapidly. As an expert on the topic explains, “as soon as we look at nature, it triggers a cascade of automatic responses.” Before we are even aware of it, the brain has already decided that views of nature are better than views of urban environments. This appears to enhance mood in a wide range of individuals.
Even at young ages, natural settings for play are preferred to those that lack natural elements. For example, a study on children in grades three to five found that time spent in nature could help them better cope with psychological distress. The authors conclude that “the impact of life stress was lower among children with high levels of nearby nature than among those with little nearby nature.” And when kids are asked to rate images or take pictures, they prefer depictions of nature that includes trees.
Natural elements may provide a clue that we are more free to explore or play, even in adults. In fact, a study found that “compared to urban scenes, nature exposures increased [adult’s] feelings of affection, friendliness, playfulness, and elation.”
Adults in demanding work environments also benefit from natural elements. Studies show that our attention span and ability to focus is better when we have exposure to views of nature. Part of the reason this may be happening is because of how natural scenes impact stress perception. Nature scenes can reduce our experience of stress such that we’ll recover more quickly. And the amazing part is that even if you merely imagine a nature scene, this exercise can provide an “effective anxiety management intervention that has the added benefit of being easily accessible.”
We don’t all have offices with a view or windows that open up to the woods. And getting outside is not always possible during the workday. But each of us can make our work or home environment a little more welcoming by introducing natural elements. Some of the most popular ways to do this include adding pictures of nature scenes and/or adding indoor plants to your space.
If you are hesitant about adding real plants to your space, you may consider artificial plants. These can help you create a calming environment and are well-suited for rooms with minimal natural light. In further support of artificial plants, studies on waiting room perceptions find that fake plants are better than none at all.
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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