![]() ![]() ![]() We created a checklist to measure the following forms of workplace nature contact among 503 employees: window view, natural light, fish tanks, live or artificial plants, listening to recording nature sounds, nature photography or art, and outdoor breaks or lunch. Recently, my colleagues and I conducted a study to examine the relationship between office environments and employee stress and health. Plants, View, Sunlight, Photos, Sounds, Outdoor Breaks Other studies also show similar results – decorating with nature photography/art and listening to natural sounds is one simply way to improve the health of your home and office. ![]() The nature contact group showed a decrease in overall anxiety and a 43% increase in reported pain control compared to the control group (Diette et al., 2003). The control group was not exposed to this nature contact intervention. The nature contact group was exposed to a bedside curtain with a large nature scene printed on it and listened to a tape of recorded nature sounds of a flowing stream or birds chirping through headphones during the procedure. Patients undergoing the diagnostic procedure were randomized into a nature contact group or a control group. Researchers at John Hopkins University examined the impact of nature contact photos and sounds during a bronchoscopy procedure. In a nutshell, a view outdoors is healthful and the more “natural” or “green” the view, the better. There have been many studies in various settings (home, work, prison, school) among many populations (adults, patients, employees, children) that mirror these findings. ![]() There were no other differences in hospital room design and patients were randomly assigned to a room (Ulrich, 1984). Results indicated that patients in a room with a window view of trees and a forested area had significantly shorter hospital stay, less use of pain medication, and better evaluations from nurses than patients in a room across the hallway with a window view of a brick wall. One of the first studies on indoor nature contact and health was published in Science in 1984 and entitled “View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery.” Medical charts of patients who underwent the same surgical procedure in a Midwest hospital were reviewed over a period of 9 years. The results across these studies show that ordinary nature contact was associated with health and wellbeing. Researchers in many fields including biology, psychology, public health and medicine, education, and design-related fields, have studied “ordinary” nature contact (e.g., an indoor plant and view from the window). Vacation destinations, real estate costs, and office windows suggest that people value ”a room with a view” and will pay more for it. Nature contact can be added by brining outdoor elements indoors.īringing nature inside for health is both intuitive and scientific. This article brings to life the purposeful and practical use of “nature contact” in your home and office to nurture better mental and physical health. One relatively simple way to improve your health is by improving your daily environments. Your living and working environments impact your overall health. ![]()
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