Love this Kate! As you've probably seen, this is something I've been thinking about a lot recently, but it's not my area of expertise. I've been trying my best over the past year or two to spend more time in nature and to get the kids out as much as possible too. It can be hard in winter, but there's literally never a time I've felt worse off. Sometimes I let my mind wander freely, sometimes I try to actively work a topic out in my head (and on paper). The challenge is we're not all as lucky as me to have a forest on our doorstep but the cool thing is, as you know, any little bit helps. There's so much interesting work on how the different senses play a role. Saw a fab talk in Oxford by Kathy Willis last year on this.
Thank you for reading! It really is such a challenge to carve out time for it, isn't it? Even when we know how good for us (and for kids) it is. Nature access is such a huge part of this conversation—I have a post on access to nature coming up in a few weeks for this reason. Kathy Willis is fab! Love her focus on improving plant and fungi blindness too. There are so many strands of solid science research that make up this complex topic of nature connection, and I'm keen to spread this knowledge out into the public domain after doing such a deep dive into it all for my PhD. Thank you so much for recommending my Substack—really appreciate it.
I love the idea of "soft fascination" in Attention Restoration Theory, and I think it's a beautiful attitude of gentle curiosity to embody while walking. Just wondering as you wander, walking the line between attention and inatternion. Thanks for a wonderful article.
Yes! This and so many other reasons spending time in nature is medicine. Our wellbeing--and that of society's as a whole--would be dramatically enhanced if we stepped off the train of optimization and hurry and simply breathed in the trees.
I recently posted a snapshot of my fitness app where it misunderstood me sitting under a tree by a lake as meditation. That was a real eye opener. Reading your piece on the same supported what I experienced myself!
Sitting on a bench calms our minds indeed, allowing everything you say to happen. Sitting on a bench is also spending time in nature, therefore connecting us with her. And that is so good and important.
We have benches in our garden and make sure we spend time on them every day.
Oh Kate, thanks for this, the science behind why walk in nature genuinely does clear the mind, one of those things I know to fundamentally be a truth, but lately due to outside pressures, have slipped away from. Oof! Can we have a conversation about it in the chat?
In my neck of the woods --literally -- a good ol' forest bath is a perfect remedy to clear the head/heart space, to make room for noticing. I walk in the Sierras; my sister walks on the canal surrounding agricultural land. Observations over a lifetime, shared now in her debut chapbook: ORCHARD LANGUAGE (read my interview with her on Maggie Smith's "Attention is a form of love" here: https://patriciajfranz.com/blog-orchard-language-is-coming/
Love this Kate! As you've probably seen, this is something I've been thinking about a lot recently, but it's not my area of expertise. I've been trying my best over the past year or two to spend more time in nature and to get the kids out as much as possible too. It can be hard in winter, but there's literally never a time I've felt worse off. Sometimes I let my mind wander freely, sometimes I try to actively work a topic out in my head (and on paper). The challenge is we're not all as lucky as me to have a forest on our doorstep but the cool thing is, as you know, any little bit helps. There's so much interesting work on how the different senses play a role. Saw a fab talk in Oxford by Kathy Willis last year on this.
Thank you for reading! It really is such a challenge to carve out time for it, isn't it? Even when we know how good for us (and for kids) it is. Nature access is such a huge part of this conversation—I have a post on access to nature coming up in a few weeks for this reason. Kathy Willis is fab! Love her focus on improving plant and fungi blindness too. There are so many strands of solid science research that make up this complex topic of nature connection, and I'm keen to spread this knowledge out into the public domain after doing such a deep dive into it all for my PhD. Thank you so much for recommending my Substack—really appreciate it.
My pleasure Kate! Really enjoying your work. Likewise! Really appreciate your recommendation too :)
And looking forward to your post on access too.
I love the idea of "soft fascination" in Attention Restoration Theory, and I think it's a beautiful attitude of gentle curiosity to embody while walking. Just wondering as you wander, walking the line between attention and inatternion. Thanks for a wonderful article.
Thank you for reading Dru! I agree. That’s a beautiful way to put it - ‘wondering as you wander, walking the line between attention and inattention’ 🥹
We forget that we are part of the fabric of nature not separate from it. I have a sunny bench in mind for later. Thanks for the prompt.
Absolutely! Enjoy your bench and thank you for reading! ☀️
Yes! This and so many other reasons spending time in nature is medicine. Our wellbeing--and that of society's as a whole--would be dramatically enhanced if we stepped off the train of optimization and hurry and simply breathed in the trees.
Absolutely! Thank you for reading.
I recently posted a snapshot of my fitness app where it misunderstood me sitting under a tree by a lake as meditation. That was a real eye opener. Reading your piece on the same supported what I experienced myself!
Ha! That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing and for reading.
I loved reading this! I am always curious about the 'why' and this really was a very satisfying answer! Thank you, Kate.
Thank you for reading and sharing! So glad you found it satisfying!
Sitting on a bench calms our minds indeed, allowing everything you say to happen. Sitting on a bench is also spending time in nature, therefore connecting us with her. And that is so good and important.
We have benches in our garden and make sure we spend time on them every day.
Absolutely! Thank you for reading.
Presumably this is why doom scrolling makes us all feel so ill we have to keep scrolling, the attention pot is empty. Love it, thank you.
Mind you that 20 degree thing… try 30 on a cool day😎
Thanks, John! Absolutely.
Oh Kate, thanks for this, the science behind why walk in nature genuinely does clear the mind, one of those things I know to fundamentally be a truth, but lately due to outside pressures, have slipped away from. Oof! Can we have a conversation about it in the chat?
You’re welcome! I’m glad it has helped. Of course - feel free to start a discussion thread 😊
In my neck of the woods --literally -- a good ol' forest bath is a perfect remedy to clear the head/heart space, to make room for noticing. I walk in the Sierras; my sister walks on the canal surrounding agricultural land. Observations over a lifetime, shared now in her debut chapbook: ORCHARD LANGUAGE (read my interview with her on Maggie Smith's "Attention is a form of love" here: https://patriciajfranz.com/blog-orchard-language-is-coming/
Yes! Forest bathing has whole hosts of proven benefits! Thank you for reading and for sharing your sister's lovely chapbook.
Oh my, I LOVE a bench situated amidst something beautiful!
It really is the best, isn’t it?
This was such a a calming read for me. I agree that nature 100% helps us be creative, no matter what that means for each person. Happy trails Kate. 🌲🌳
I’m so glad! Thank you for reading 🙏