Does Nature Boost Creativity?

Psychologists have hypothesized for many years that the constant demands of emails, screen time, and general busy-ness puts a significant burden on the prefrontal cortex of our brain, the region involved in multitasking, personality expression, decision-making, moderating social behavior and higher-order thinking (like critical thinking and problem solving).

Those small demands add up to a huge drain on our attentional resources, making us distracted and cognitively fatigued—which in turn makes it more difficult to focus, think deeply, and come up with new ideas.

Recent findings suggest that the more you get away from the stresses of daily life and the more time you spend outdoors, the greater your level of creativity!

Why?

Because the prefrontal cortex is far less active when people are out in a natural environment.

When the prefrontal cortex quiets down, the brain’s default mode network kicks in.

Suddenly, flashes of insight come to us. All of this is activated when we’re not focusing on anything specific, and instead we’re engaged in non -taxing activities, such as walking in the woods. Our minds are allowed to idly wander, or to dip into our deep storehouses of emotions, ideas and memories.

In order for the brain to function at its highest possible level, you need to be able to reduce fatigue and boost your energy levels.

This allows your brain to restore itself so you can start thinking of new ideas. Just twenty minutes a day outside is all you may need in order to allow your brain to refresh, restore and start functioning again: walking in a city park or any green space is enough to give your brain a rest and boost cognitive functioning

So, the next time you are struggling to bring some of your ideas to fruition, consider spending some time in nature. It’s a far better solution than sitting in front of a screen trying to come up with the creative solution you are looking for. You’ll find your creativity will soar higher—with every step you take outside communing with nature.