Can Nature Boost Our Productivity
Looking for an energy and productivity boost? Forget apps, lists, and schedules and turn to nature instead
I must admit to feeling pretty sluggish at this time of year. When my alarm goes off, I want to stay cosy under my duvet. And as soon as darkness falls, I’m ready to hunker down in front of the TV with a pile of snacks.
I’m not giving myself too much of a hard time, because I think it’s natural to slow down at the coldest and darkest time of the year. But I don’t want to be in semi-hibernation for the next two months.
If you feel the same, nature can help.
Being connected to nature has been proven to improve wellness, decrease stress and boost creativity. And getting closer to nature is so much more fun than writing another to-do list or downloading yet another productivity app.
Here are five ways nature can boost your energy, enhance your creativity and increase your productivity.
Nature Rules
In a man-made environment, there is often a lot of stimulating activity and information that can lead to stress and cognitive fatigue. In contrast, a natural landscape is more relaxing for the mind and elicits feelings of calm. We also find it easier to focus when we are in a natural landscape than in a man-made one. Studies have even shown that hospital patients recover faster if they have a view of nature.
To benefit from the calming effects of nature, try to get in a natural environment for a period each day, either in a park, woods, the beach or a garden. If this is not possible then houseplants, and even pictures and photos of natural landscapes, can help you feel calmer and more focused. You could also try listening to nature sounds or using natural essential oils to create a tranquil, natural-feeling environment in your home or office.
Let there be light
Light has an important role to play in our wellbeing, mood, and energy levels. If you are feeling tired it could be due to a lack of natural light and/or overexposure to certain lights.
Of course, getting enough daylight can be hard at this time of year. If possible, try to get outside for an hour a day. This will regulate your body’s natural rhythms, boosting energy and helping you sleep more soundly. If this is not possible, try to get as much natural light into your environment by opening blinds and curtains and sitting close to a window when you can. If all else fails, you can buy daylight bulbs and full-spectrum lights to use in your home or office.
You should also avoid harsh blue-white lights during the evening. Many phones and screens have a setting to switch them to less blue light. However, cutting out screen use for an hour or so before bed is a good idea if you want a great night’s sleep.
Peace out
In our modern lives, we are bombarded with information almost constantly. The amount of material we are exposed to has increased hugely in recent years. Some researchers suggest we’ve created more information in the last 10 years than in all of human history before that. Our brains are just not configured to handle that amount of input, so all this information can lead to stress, overwhelm and a lack of focus.
Reducing your exposure to new information can help you focus and be more productive. Resist the temptation to keep scrolling through digital media or listening to rolling news. It’s a good idea to limit yourself to a few trusted sources of information and set time limits on TV, internet and social media usage. As well as reducing stress and overwhelm, this will also free up loads of time to work on projects that are meaningful to you.
Simplifying your life can also help with overwhelm. It is easier to focus in a calm, uncluttered environment so put away distractions if you need to focus. If you can, simplify your to-do list and activities so that you can focus on the things that you truly care about.
Rest
We often think that the best way to be productive is to work harder. But we do our most effective work when we take care of ourselves. This means when we are well nourished, relaxed and rested. Working when we are already strung out and exhausted is unlikely to help us achieve our best work. In fact, it is more likely to result in mediocre output, mistakes and wasted energy.
If you are feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, do whatever you need to do to get yourself in a better place so that you can work more effectively. This means taking care of the body nature gave you. Feed yourself nourishing food, takes some gentle exercise and get some quality sleep. Then come back to the work from this healthy and relaxed place and see how things begin to flow so much more easily.
Connect
Human beings are social animals, and we need to connect with others in a meaningful way to feel happy and fulfilled. Make time for the important people in your life to keep those relationships strong. Human connection has been proven to boost your mental health and help you live longer. Having fun with your loved ones will definitely boost your energy and wellbeing and make life more interesting and joyful.
References
Pearson, D G et al, 2014. The great outdoors? Exploring the mental health benefits of natural environments, Front Psychol.
Ulrich, R. S, 1984, View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery, Science.
Martino, J. et al. 2017 The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness Am J Lifestyle Med. Nov-Dec; 11(6): 466–475. Published online 2015 Oct 7.
