Next is this series of curated creativity posts, let's explore the what and how of exposure to natural settings and its relationship to enhanced creativity.
Author of The Nature Fix, Florence Williams says researchers think that nature works for us by lowering stress. Measurements of stress hormones, respiration, heart rate and sweating, all suggest that short doses of nature can calm people down and sharpen their performance. It also suggests that the relaxation and ease we feel in nature supports our parasympathetic system, the ‘rest and digest’ nervous system.
How Nature Unlocks Creativity.... and the connection with forest bathing Part 1
The Creative Catalyst enables me to explore the latest research and tools that can enhance and enable our creativity. While studying Sylvotherapy, more commonly associated with Forest Therapy, Forest Bathing or Shinrin Yoku, the research behind its benefits became clearer. While many of the studies in Part 1 noted spending 3-4 days in nature, you can still experience the benefits of forest therapy if you're time poor. (see Part 2)
The Practice of Forest Bathing....Make time, leave the phone, observe and engage in creativity. Part 2
Practicing forest therapy isn’t just about observing the natural world, it’s about getting gritty in it and basking in a forest ecosystem. There are profound benefits to be gained by bringing the mind and body into a state of relaxation while being fully aware of our surroundings and being able to experience the present moment with all our being.
How Walking In Nature Changes The Brain
Researchers conducted a study which asked randomly selected participants to spend 50 minutes walking in either a natural or urban setting, and to submit to a series of psychological assessments before and after the walk. They found that volunteers who walked through a lush, green portion of Stanford campus showed improve cognitive function and mood compared to those who walked near heavy traffic for the same period of time.
The Plant Project....The mental and physical benefits of gardening
I’ve had the opportunity to do something I truly love…learn, just for the sake of it. While we all know that lifelong learning is a valuable way to stay cognitively alert, help us stay socially active and it’s just plain fun. When an invitation came to spend a year learning about any topic I wanted, I jumped at it. After some consideration I finally landed on horticulture.
My small patch of wonder... and my quest to get bees back into my garden
One of the most enjoyable side projects I undertook in 2023 was to create a native garden in my front patch. The goal was to establish a space for natives, flowering plants with a few herbs, a compost bin and a safe protected place for small reptiles. So how did this enhance my creativity?
The Art of Observation, Book Review
Kyo Maclear’s ‘Birds Art Life: a year of observation’ maps her year-long journey as she discovers bird watching in her city. She uses this lens to mediate on the relationship between art and life, and describes the beauty and awe found in her everyday sights.
You can also check out Chapter 14 of The Creative Advantage (book 1) to find out more about how nature enhances your creative practice.