Spending time in nature is so beneficial to our health and well-being. It calms us, reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and anger. It has also been shown to improve focus and attention, and reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It even makes us friendlier and more apt to reach out to others in our community. Playing outside is one of the best activities for our kids, but what if it’s too cold or too rainy to go outside? Is it possible to experience the benefits of nature from indoors?
Nothing beats actually immersing ourselves outside in the natural environment, but science proves that we can capture the importance of nature in our life through images, sounds, and plants inside our home.
Nature Imagery
Amazingly, just looking at pictures of nature scenes can make us feel similar to actually spending time outdoors. A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that you can reduce stress by simply looking at good nature images. When participants viewed pictures of natural scenes, their stress level decreased because their parasympathetic nervous system (that helps us to calm down) was activated.
Spending time in nature can also make us feel more compassionate and connected to others and our environment. Scientists proved this by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the experiment, they discovered that when participants viewed scenes from the natural environment, the parts of their brain associated with empathy and love lit up. On the other hand, when they looked at urban scenes, the parts of the brain associated with fear and anxiety were activated.
Finally, Dr. Marc Berman and researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study in which participants took a break for 10 minutes in a quiet room to look at pictures of a nature scene or city street. They found that cognitive performance improved after the nature break. Although the boost was not as large as when participants actually took the walk outside among trees, it was more effective than taking a walk in the city.
Nature Sounds
Listening to nature can help relax us and improve our mood. A research team at the University of Florida looked at how nature sounds affect people’s mental and physical health. They measured pulse rate, muscle tension, and self-reported stress of a group of people and then had them listen to one of three sounds: silence, music by Mozart, or ocean waves. Then the researchers gave them another medical exam and asked them how stressed they felt. They saw no significant change for people who listened to silence or classical music, but those who listened to ocean waves had considerably lower muscle tension, heart rates, and stress. The scientists also saw these positive changes occur quite rapidly, within five to seven minutes of listening to the sounds of nature. Imagine how quickly we can calm our children down by playing some soothing nature sounds!
In another study, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Acoustician Jonas Braasch found that listening to natural sounds (specifically birdcalls) during a work break can boost performance afterward. Braasch believes that nature sounds have a restorative effect because they create a more comfortable environment where people feel happy and satisfied. He also thinks this idea can be applied to other stressful environments, like hospitals, where nature sounds may potentially help people heal faster.
Experts found, however, that not all nature sounds have the same calming effect. The best sounds are those that give a sense of natural space and mimic the biorhythms of an ecosystem like a forest. Loud chirping and croaking is just not going to cause the same calming feelings as sounds of water, which are very soothing because of their slow, rhythmic whooshing noises.
Plants
Plants and flowers have long been known to cheer people up. Research done in hospitals, offices, and schools has now found that even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on reducing stress and anxiety. Plants actually boost healing, according to a study at Kansas State University. Researchers learned that viewing plants during recovery from surgery can lead to a significant improvement in physiologic responses. Patients had lower blood pressure and less pain, anxiety, and fatigue compared to patients who did not have plants in their rooms. In addition, studies found that patients who are able to view nature scenes or plants in their room experience less pain after surgery. Look for indoor plants for sale to brighten up your home.
How To Bring More Nature Inside
According to Netta Weinstein, professor at the University of Rochester, we can maximize our connections with nature even if we are unable to get outside. She explains, “Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world.”
How can we give our children experiences of nature on the days that we just can’t fit in outdoor play? Here are some ideas to expose your children to the amazing aspects of nature from inside:
- Visit indoor sanctuaries of nature such as an arboretum, butterfly garden, botanical garden, greenhouse, science museum, or aquarium.
- Decorate your house with awe-inspiring images of nature. Collect gorgeous pieces from famous photographers like Ansel Adams and Philip Hyde or start a family hobby of taking pictures of nature that you love to display throughout your house.
- Display plants throughout your house.
- Start an indoor garden of herbs and flowers.
- Watch nature shows, movies, and documentaries as a family.
- Include pictures and objects of nature that are green and blue in your house, colors known to calm us down.
- Play nature sounds in your home, especially at bedtime.
The beauty of nature is that is has the power to impact us no matter where we experience it. By giving our children a multitude of ways to observe nature through their senses, they can enjoy the many benefits it has to offer on any day of the year.
How do you help your kids experience the importance of nature from indoors?
I love getting out in the summer time to enjoy a casual bike ride through nature. It is a great way to re-charge, reflect and the sounds are very calming. I completely agree with your article on every level. There’s just something about a babbling brook that puts me in a mood of zen.
I love being able to to walk outside and just hike and hike for miles. I totally agree with this blog post, I do find that spending time outdoors makes me become connected to the environment. This is awesome.
Trees on the one hand and beaches on the other. These are the things that I must connect with regularly in order to feel at home on this earth.
This is so inspiring! I’ve been planning to get some more plants and definitely want to do that now! I also love the idea of adding more nature images and sounds. We haven’t been spending as much time in nature in the frozen Minnesota landscape.
Thanks for this! It has been so depressing lately having terrible, rainy weather, stuck indoors. I will definitely apply some of these tips.
Love this!! It can definitely feel too boxy when just inside all day every day. We got one plant the other day and it already made such a difference
This is so amazing idea. Love it. Thank you. very useful!
I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of nature sounds before. You suggest some excellent ideas to bring nature inside that will be mood stabilizers and lifters.
Love the tip to watch more nature shows and play nature sounds. I find nature sounds so soothing but didn’t think to play them in the house.
Nature sounds are so relaxing! They help me fall asleep when I’m super upset!
Love the reminder to enjoy nature with all of our senses! We often sit on our deck and do just that. Very peaceful.
This has inspired me to start a herb garden. Thank you for sharing. Rosie xxx
What a wonderful idea!
Interesting idea about using nature sounds! I use them for going to sleep, but having something on during the day would help my stress levels.
Nature is the best healer for both mental ailments. Good article.
The article was published in 2018, but now, in the quarantine time, it is especially relevant and useful. Thank you!
Nature is very relaxing. I spend a lot of time outdoors. But your suggestions do really work. I notice that if I’m looking at a landscape photo it brings a smile to my face. Or just listening to the rain or chirping birds sounds does have a soothing effect. Great ideas, I like your post.
This inspired a lot and gave me the push I needed to start my herb garden. Thanks a lot.
I love gardening. It is indeed so relaxing. Connecting with nature is one of my favorite things to do. Great post, thank you.
Yes! I’ve been doing a lot of seed planting with my 4 year old too.
Thank you for sharing these tips! It’s so important to be able to engage in nature especially during times like this
Great ideas! There are also some great streaming services that provide live nature views at zoos, etc..
These are interesting ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Our family loves the outdoors, although we could bring more of the outdoors inside. My problem is I have a history of killing plants
Ha, me too!
Thank goodness I did some home gardening before this COVID thing strikes the world. The post is so relatable.
These are all great tips–I really miss the outdoors, but writing up all my travel posts has been helping (yay for all the nature photos, haha)! 😛 I’d love to have more plants too!
Great suggestions! I think I need to get some more nature indoors and I will order a plant or two to brighten our mood.
We love nature. We bought 2 hanging tomato plants for decoration and also to grow our own food.
Great ideas! I love the idea of bringing a bit nature indoors.
I love these ideas! Thank you. I turn on a YouTube video in the morning that streams sunrises in Florida. Love it.
LOVE these ideas! Connecting with nature is so important. I love all my house plants and I find them to really bring up my mood on days I can’t get outside.
It’s important for everyone to experience nature regardless of whether we can go out or not. Thankfully technology has made that possible.
Am stuck indoors a lot as have a chronic condition, can go weeks without leaving the flat, so I really do miss nature! I love my plants and the tree from my window, but these r some gr8 ideas, thank u sk much! X
What a lovely idea to bring nature indoors (I need to do more of that) and enjoy it. There are so many benefits nature has that being stuck inside more than normal can be quite depressing. Great tips!
Nature is so important and I love getting out and about in it! It can be a lot harder in the winter months so these tips are fab xxx
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We’ve been doing a ton of nature sounds for background white noise, which has definitely helped. My wife also keeps bugging me about jelly fish tank, but I am not ready for that level of maintenance (or expense).
I love these tips. I really love being out in nature, but it’s so hard for me to do that when it’s cold. Nature shows and sounds are so helpful, and I really need to make a point of enjoying those options more frequently. Thanks so much for the great suggestions. 🙂
These are great ideas. I am fortunate to live in an area where most days we are able to get outside but there is definitely a big difference in mood on days we cannot. I’m slowly collecting more plants around our home (but sometimes struggle to keep them alive haha) and my boys do love a good nature show! I’ve never thought about watching one specifically on a day we can’t go out though 🙂
I always love adding more plants to the house during the winter since I’m stuck inside during most of it. Thanks for this post, it has some great ideas.
I love this post! So informative, and yes, we need nature! Thank you for sharing this knowledge.
Amazing tips to bring nature inside!