Let Nature Take Care of it - Simple Tips to restore mental fatigue and build wellbeing
If you’re like most of us, you may find yourself feeling overloaded by mental demands. The experience of cognitive overload is a common effect of managing life in the 21st century. Being constantly “on” can lead to extreme experiences of overwhelm, fatigue and exhaustion. Just as your body needs to rest and recover from strenuous physical activity, your brain requires experiences of rest and rejuvenation to function effectively too.
None of us are oblivious to the pressure of managing life, and many demands are beyond our control, so where does it leave us? What if I told you that there is an easily accessible, free, powerful tool to restore your mental energy and protect it from further depletion. Interested? All you have to do is stop and smell the roses. Literally.
Our ancestors lived, thrived and evolved in natural environments. We have an innate connection to natural living systems. This phenomenon is referred to as “biophilia”. This profound need for time in outdoor spaces, means that when we are disconnected from them, we suffer greatly. Being connected with nature isn’t just a pleasurable sensory experience, it stimulates gentle mental processing, allowing for cognitive rest and recovery.
For the past four decades, scientists have explored the restorative power of nature, finding that spending time in natural environments is a powerful and effective way to restore our mental resources. Spending time out in the wilderness, private or public gardens, looking through a window, tending to indoor plants and even spending time with animals generates gentle restorative mental processing.
Natural environments can…
reduce the impact of stress
restore attention
increase problem-solving skills
stimulate creativity
support performance
stimulate experiences of positive emotions
enhance mood
improve behaviour
decrease aggression
So, what has the research uncovered? What is needed to access the full benefits of nature? How do we know which environments will be beneficial to us? There are four key components to be mindful of:
The four essentials of attention restoration theory
1. Being away
You must be distracted from the environment that is draining your energy and attention.
2. Soft Fascination
Your attention should be effortless. You should not need to focus or direct your attention to anything beyond gentle observation and curiosity.
3. Extent
The extent to which you feel comfortable and at ease in the natural environment is critical. It should provide an opportunity for you to feel engaged and immersed in what you are experiencing, and it shouldn’t take you long to settle in.
4. Compatibility
You should feel compatible with the natural environment. You must choose it out of personal preference and internal motivation (irritations or distractions will cause your attention to be focused elsewhere).
Not sure how to find stillness in nature? Use your senses to connect. Close your eyes, focus on what you can hear, smell, feel and even taste. Then, open your eyes and explore. What has the natural world got to show you that you hadn’t seen before? Although benefits will be experienced by merely witnessesing natural scenes, taking the time to mindfully immerse yourself in your environment will heighten both the experience and the benefits.
Whilst you don’t have endless time to stop and recharge, if you can invest mere minutes in natural restoration, you will reap the benefits. The more you do it, the greater the change. The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, mentally fatigued or exhausted, allow yourself to be present whilst observing a natural environment. You will give your mental energy the opportunity to restore, support your overall wellbeing and give yourself the capacity to more effectively navigate demands that require your full attention.
