September 11, 2011

Need a Break? Try Nature

A growing body of research suggests nature walks may be more restorative than traditional stimulants like caffeine. David Biello reports

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Stressed out by the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the double-dip recession or just the day to day grind of modern life? Need a break? Don't turn to alcohol or caffeine, try a nature walk instead.

That's according to a growing body of research from psychologists that examines what really produces mental refreshment in humans. For example, a study from 2008 showed that walking through an arboretum boosted people's performance on memory tests. And a 2005 study showed that even just looking at a picture of nature had a similar, though more muted effect.

Journalist Richard Louv has proposed that depriving kids of nature has produced a cohort of children with attention problems, obesity and the like. He dubbed it "nature deficit disorder." And a 2009 study in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that children with attention problems concentrate better after a walk in the park.

Of course, there are a wide range of reasons why some kids today have attention issues, including stress. That goes double for adults. But if you're in need of some tranquility, a walk in the woods may beat a cup of coffee.

—David Biello

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]

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