There are many aspects of AIP. NATURE is one of them! It may seem difficult to commit to connecting to nature, especially when the weather does not want to cooperate. There are numerous studies on listening to nature, and I wanted to highlight a few…
A 2022 Study found that listening to nature sounds for 30 minutes improvedself-confidence, self-esteem, cognitive performance, self-efficacy, student learning, and performance. It helps with mental fatigue and attention restoration.
A 2023 study had participants listen to nature sounds in one-minute intervals: first, eyes closed, then work on a task, and eyes closed again. The control group listened to urban sounds. The result? Lowered heartrate, Enhanced Parasympathetic nerve activity, Relaxed, comfortable mood, and lowered negative mood.
Lastly, nature sounds were played during the first and last hour of the Emergency Department. This 2024 study found reducedjob stress, therapeutic benefits, and increased productivity for ER Staff.
BENEFIT RECAP
Listening to nature sounds: Boost Mood, Reduce anxiety, Increase concentration, Improves sleep, Regulates emotion, and Enhances focus.
TRY THIS
Notice how you are feeling. Go outside or listen to nature sounds. Take 5 minutes. Sit in a comfortable, safe spot. Close your eyes and listen. Take deep breaths and pay attention to all your senses and what you hear. This is a great way to help restore directed attention, especially with all the digital connection we have every day. When outside, don’t forget to protect yourself from ticks!
Resources
Exposure to Nature Sounds through a Mobile Application in Daily Life: Effects on Learning Performance among University Students – PMC
Effects of nature sounds on the attention and physiological and psychological relaxation – ScienceDirect
The impact of nature sounds on job stress, satisfaction, and productivity among Emergency Department staff | QScience.com
Nature As Medicine: The 7th (Unofficial) Pillar of Lifestyle Medicine – PMC
