Rest Is Not Optional
Why you should often walk in nature
Every day we go through a lot, pulled in many directions. Doing cognitively demanding tasks require uninterrupted attention which is unfortunately limited.
Cognitive resources deplete when we exhaust our attention also called directed attention fatigue.
If you are tired of doing something you enjoy and find it difficult to concentrate, you probably need to step back for a while.
Exerting yourself despite this will make you irritable and prone to human error.
Sleep — although useful — can’t be solely relied upon. However, a consistent lack of sleep will adversely affect one’s performance.
Attention restoration theory, put forth by Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, provides a solution. The ability to concentrate can be replenished by opting for a specific environment: restorative environment.
A restorative environment (Kaplan and Talbot,1983) has the following characteristics:
- Where you are away from work both mentally and physically
- Environment must have an extent
- Being in the environment should not be mentally demanding
- It needs to be mildly fascinating at least
Scrolling through Instagram/Facebook doesn’t count because you are not submerged in the environment. A walk across the street — brushing against people and avoiding cars — won’t count either. Watering plants is a good choice if you like gardening.
Stephen Kaplan (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework concludes that walking in nature can fulfill the above 4 conditions for the restorative environment.
Nature scores high in all the factors mentioned above. No need to plan for exotic tourist destinations or rainforests; any extensive green space will also work.
