According to research conducted by Microsoft, the average person sends and receives more than 100 e-mail messages per day. But that's just the tip of the iceberg - that same person will check their cell phone 34 times per day, visit Facebook 5 times per day, and up to 30 minutes (again, this is an average) at least 30 minutes per day "liking" things and text messaging friends. If you combine all of the time spent on social media, surfing the Internet, checking e-mail, and text messaging over the course of an entire year, the average person spends 90 eight-hour work days per year on activities that one could certainly argue are non-productive.
That's just the beginning. The author and cognitive psychologist, Daniel Goleman, has stated that I can take up to 10-15 minutes to regain full focus after even a brief distractions (say, checking your cell phone or a text message). The personal cost of lost focus and productivity is staggering - we talk all the time about always "playing catch up", working after hours or on the weekends, and "pulling all-nighters." And we drink coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, or "energy shots" so that we can do these things. The so-called "safe level" of caffeine intake is generally considered to be about 400 mg per day, which translates roughly to about 4 cups of coffee per day. Note that the average coffee drinker in the U.S. drinks 3.2 cups per day, which is getting fairly close to the safe limit.
We hear a lot these days about stress and burnout and the impact they have on both our personal and professional lives. Similarly, in the same vein we hear a lot of talk about mindfulness and how techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or even yoga can be used to reduce stress and the signs and symptoms of burnout. Have we ever considered, though, that the cure for stress, burnout, and industrial disease may be just outside of our window?
Getting outside and experiencing nature firsthand can be highly restorative. There are now several studies showing that experiencing nature can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and improve overall well-being. For example, spending at least 120 minutes per week in nature (that's just a little under 20 minutes per day) can benefit both health and well-being. And you don't have to go to the mountains, the beach, or the national park to get these kinds of benefits - spending time in the local park or other urban green space appears to be just as effective.
In another study, University of Michigan undergraduate students underwent cognitive, attention, and short-term memory testing both before and after taking a walk. They were randomized to two groups - the first group took a 50-55 minute walk in a park near campus, while the second group walked the same distance downtown. Cognitive test scores significantly improved in the nature vs. downtown group, both from the pre-walk baseline and when compared directly. In other words, even if you live in an urban environment, finding time to walk outside in a park or any green space can be extremely helpful.
More importantly, the healing powers of nature may be just as powerful when experienced through art or even just out the window. Experiencing nature through a window, an aquarium, or artwork has been show to help hospitalized patients both feel better and recover faster. For example, in a classic study conducted (published as an abstract only) in 1993 by Ulrich, Lunden, and Eltinge, patients recovering from heart surgery looked at one of three different scenes in their room - a forest scene, a view of open water, or an abstract design. Patients looking at the forest scene required less pain medication and were less anxious, but the results were most dramatic with the patients who were looking at the open water scene. Hospitals have recognized these benefits and have increasingly incorporated nature into the design of their patient rooms.
If you are interested in more about this particular topic, there's a recent book by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols on the healing and restorative powers of water, called Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. It's absolutely fascinating the health and wellness benefits people derive from working and playing around water (rivers, lakes, and oceans). I know that I personally feel recharged after a few days at the beach!
With all the hustle and bustle of today's world, it seems like we could do ourselves a huge favor by taking a few minutes (and it probably only needs to be 15 or 20 minutes) a day enjoying nature. The scientific evidence is there. Spend a few less minutes per day on social media or on your cell phone, and use that time to go outside and experience firsthand this beautiful world of ours. What more do you need to convince you to get back to nature?
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