Dear College of Education Community,
This week we celebrate the start of the fall season and are reminded of how nature offers a wonderful source of self-care. Research has shown that when we thoughtfully connect with nature, we can experience numerous benefits. Meaningful contact with nature is associated with increases in happiness, subjective well-being, positive affect, positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress according to a review of the research by Gregory Bratman, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Washington (Science Advances, Vol. 5, No. 7, 2019). Dr. Kirsten Weir further summarized benefits in her 2020 “Nurtured by nature” article in the APA Monitor:
- Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health, and emotional well-being.
- Feeling connected to nature can produce similar benefits to well-being, regardless of how much time one spends outdoors.
- Both green spaces and blue spaces (aquatic environments) produce well-being benefits. More remote and biodiverse spaces may be particularly helpful, though even urban parks and trees can lead to positive outcomes.
To read more about the benefits of nature and see related articles, go to
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
For a list of other self-care options, please go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
May we all enjoy the benefits of nature!
Warmly,
Shari