Boosting well-being and clarity in nature

Have you ever felt more calm, focused, and creative after spending some time in nature? If so, you are not alone. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows how nature can enhance our well-being and cognitive performance on dimensions such as problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration. This article will explore some of the benefits of spending time in nature, and how we can tap into them through different types of activities.

The article is a follow-up on my previous article about evolving From Systems Thinking to Systems Feeling and -Healing, an important dimension of building Breakthrough Organisations in response to The Great Reboot.

Benefits of nature for well-being and cognition

Nature can have a positive impact on our mental health and well-being in many ways. For example, nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase happiness, life satisfaction, and resilience. One study found that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature was associated with better health and well-being, regardless of the type, location, or duration of the exposure [i]. Another study found that even viewing nature scenes for a few minutes can improve mood and emotional regulation [ii].

Nature can also boost our cognitive performance and creativity. For example, nature can improve attention, memory, and executive functions, which are essential for problem-solving and decision-making. One study found that a 50-minute walk in nature improved attention and memory performance by 20%, compared to a walk in an urban environment [iii]. Another study found that a four-day nature immersion enhanced creative problem-solving by 50%, compared to a control group [iv].

Nature also can strengthen collaboration by helping us reconnect with ourselves and others, which can increase our self-awareness and empathy, and strengthen our social bonds and trust. One study found that exposure to natural scenes enhanced participants' cooperative behaviour and generosity in a social dilemma game [v].

Why does nature have such positive effects on us?

One possible explanation for the benefits mentioned above is that nature can restore our attentional resources, which are depleted by the demands of modern life. Nature can also stimulate our senses, emotions, and imagination, which can foster new perspectives, insights, and ideas. Furthermore, nature can connect us with ourselves, others, and the larger world, which can enhance our sense of meaning and purpose.

If you are curious to dive deeper into the scientific body within the wider field of how human health, well-being, and vitality relate to nature, I recommend this and this page to get a good overview.

How to experience nature for well-being and clarity

There are many ways to tap into the benefits of spending time in nature, depending on your context, needs, and preferences, but here are a few examples of different activities that can easily be integrated into your professional and personal life:

• Take a walk-and-talk. Instead of meeting in a conference room or a coffee shop, invite your colleague, client, or friend for a walk in a nearby park, forest, or garden. Walking in nature can stimulate your brain, enhance your mood, and facilitate your communication, so you will not only enjoy the fresh air and scenery but probably also have a more productive and engaging conversation.
• Join or organise a workshop or development process in nature. Whether you want to learn a new skill, explore a new topic, solve a wicked problem, or brainstorm a new idea, doing it in a natural setting can enhance your learning, creativity, and collaboration.
• Go for a deeper nature immersion. A more profound and transformative way to experience nature is to embark on a nature quest, which is a form of solo retreat in nature. A nature quest typically involves fasting, meditating, and staying alone in a natural setting for a period, usually a few days. A nature quest can help you disconnect from the distractions and pressures of everyday life, and reconnect with your inner wisdom, intuition, and creativity. You can use this time to reflect on your life, explore your questions, and gain a deeper insight into yourself, your purpose, and your direction in life.

The implications and benefits for work life

In a work life context, where we spend a lot of time and are eager to strengthen our well-being, performance, and contribution, there are many opportunities for development. Here are some examples of how nature can help you achieve more in your work life, on individual, team, and organisational level:

• Personal development: By spending time in nature, you can enhance your self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-efficacy, which are key components of emotional intelligence and leadership. You can also develop your critical thinking, creativity, and innovation skills, which are vital for adapting to the changing and complex world. You can also increase your motivation, engagement, and satisfaction with your work, which can improve your performance and productivity.
• Team development: By sharing nature experiences with your colleagues, you can strengthen your communication, collaboration, and trust, which are essential for effective teamwork. You can also foster a culture of learning, feedback, and support, which can enhance your team's cohesion and resilience. You can also better leverage the diversity of perspectives, skills, and backgrounds of your team members, which can enrich your team's creativity and problem-solving.
• Organisational development: By promoting activities in nature and incorporating nature elements into your organisational practices and facilities, you can create a more healthy, positive, and inspiring work environment, which can attract and retain talent, and reduce turnover and absenteeism. You can also promote a more agile, flexible, and responsive organisational culture, which can cope with uncertainty and change. You can also align your organisational vision, mission, and values with the principles of sustainability and social responsibility, which can enhance your organisational reputation and legitimacy.

Summarised, nature is a great arena to develop your personal, team, and organizational skills, such as communication, collaboration, feedback, and leadership, and ultimately help you generate new ideas, insights, and solutions for your business challenges and opportunities.

Conclusion

Nature is a powerful ally for our well-being and cognitive performance. By spending time in nature, we can enhance our problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration skills, and achieve more clarity in our personal and professional lives.

I hope this article has inspired you to try out some of the activities that can help you connect with nature and yourself, and discover new possibilities and opportunities. Enjoy the journey!

If you have any questions, comments, or experiences to share, please feel free to comment or contact me.

[i] White, M. P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., Wheeler, B. W., Hartig, T., Warber, S. L., ... & Fleming, L. E. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-11.

[ii] Berto, R. (2014). The role of nature in coping with psycho-physiological stress: a literature review on restorativeness. Behavioral sciences, 4(4), 394-409.

[iii] Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological science, 19(12), 1207-1212.

[iv] Atchley, R. A., Strayer, D. L., & Atchley, P. (2012). Creativity in the wild: Improving creative reasoning through immersion in natural settings. PloS one, 7(12), e51474.

[v] Zhang, J. W., Piff, P. K., Iyer, R., Koleva, S., & Keltner, D. (2014). An occasion for unselfing: beautiful nature leads to prosociality. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 37, 61-72.