Yes, I know what that song originally meant, but I love nature and this song title fit. Maybe I should have used, "Take me Home Country Roads." :-)

One of my favorite places to be is sitting on a sun washed boulder, in the middle of a stream.. If my backside didn't fall asleep, I'd stay there all day!!

Lynda

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By Steve Taylor, Ph.D.

One way of explaining this experience is in terms of what the psychologists Stephen and Rachel Kaplan called attention restoration theory. This describes how contact with nature can replenish our mental resources, particularly after a long time in the stressful, energy-draining environment of the city.

Kaplan and Kaplan described four stages of restoration, beginning with a clearing of the mind, in which thoughts begin to slow down and fade away. The second stage is mental fatigue recovery when we de-focus our attention and allow our mental energies to recharge. Then we gently focus our attention on the natural environment, which further reduces the chatter of our minds, almost as if we are meditating. Finally, we enter a stage of ‘reflection and restoration’ in which we fully relax, feel a sense of mental freshness, and are able to reflect anew on our lives and our goals.
Other Beneficial Aspects of Connection With Nature

Attention restoration is just one of the beneficial effects of contact with nature. These effects have been extensively researched in recent years, leading to the coining of the phrase “ecotherapy.”

The first systematic research in this area took place in Japan, where in the 1980s, the government funded studies into the practice of ‘forest-bathing’ (shinrin-yoku). This simply means walking quietly through a forest, observing the natural phenomena around you while breathing slowly and deeply.

Many studies have found that the practice has significant mental and physical benefits, such as reduced blood pressure, lower cortisol levels, a stronger immune system, better sleep, and improved memory and concentration.1 As a result, shinrin-yoku became an important part of Japan’s healthcare system as a preventative medicine tool.

More recent research outside Japan has found that even forms of “light” contact with nature have positive effects. Simply watching a slide show of natural images or a nature-based TV programme has been shown to elevate mood and energy levels.2 Employees and schoolchildren who have views of nature – or whose working spaces include indoor plants – develop increased well-being, better concentration, and work performance.3

In 2020, researchers at University College London studied children who engaged in outdoor activities at a local wildlife trust. They found that the children showed increased well-being and health. In children who lived in an urban environment with little contact with nature, the positive effects were especially strong.4 There is also evidence that contact with nature can alleviate some of the symptoms of ADHD in children.5
Why is contact with nature so therapeutic?

The above therapeutic effects make sense when we consider that, until very recent times, all human beings lived in constant close contact with nature. A feeling of connection to nature is deeply ingrained in us. Nature has always been our home, and so we always feel most comfortable when we are close to it. (The biologist E.O. Wilson referred to this attraction to nature as ‘biophilia.’)