By: Alexandra Graff, Senior Psychology major
Midterms, finals, a presentation, papers due… These are just a few of the stressors college students face at any given time. With these stressors come issues like sleeplessness, irritability, lack of concentration — among others. Did you know that the nature surrounding the beautiful University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus may be just what students need to combat these issues? Nature provides many of the benefits you need to feel physically and mentally well. Here are five psychological and health benefits of nature for college students.
1. Nature restores attention. With all that students face, it is no surprise that they may experience difficulty concentrating, increased irritability and feelings of stress, especially when stuck inside a dorm or classroom studying. There is actually a name for this — Directed Attention Fatigue. The remedy for this is to go outside. When outside in nature, our brains engage in soft fascination which does not demand our full attention and provides restorative effects. Sources of soft fascination include waterfalls, birds chirping, and leaves blowing in the wind.
2. Nature influences recovery times. Dr. Roger Ulrich conducted a study on the influence of scenic hospital rooms on patients who just had surgery. He found that patients who had views of nature in their hospital room were less likely to ask for pain medication, were discharged from the hospital sooner, and received fewer negative assessments from the medical staff. Now imagine what effects the views around UWGB could have on students!
3. Being outside in nature improves sleeping. Our bodies and minds need sleep to perform well. There are a few reasons why being outside in nature can improve sleeping. The physical activity that occurs when out in nature frequently requires walking, running or climbing which can be tiring. In addition, the amount of sunlight received affects a hormone in the body called melatonin. Too little of this hormone can result in difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
4. Nature increases personal growth. Natural environments tend to be more challenging for the body and the mind. Not giving up when climbing a tree or rock climbing not only develops resilience but can also get the heart pumping. Confidence increases as we try new things and succeed. These feelings of confidence and resilience can carry over to new experiences and new challenges.
5. Nature provides opportunities to socialize with others. Hiking a trail or walking a park may lead to face-to-face interactions with new people. Furthermore, outdoor adventures may include seeing a wild animal, a pond filled with fish, or hearing the sound of a song bird, which provide topics to chat about with family and friends.
With pyschological benefits like these, why wait to enjoy outdoors especially on the beautiful campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay! Celebrate Earth Day (April 22, 2017) and beyond while enjoying the benefits of nature by stepping outside.
