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psychology in the open air
Spending time outdoors is essential for human health and well-being. This is especially important nowadays, when most of life is spent indoors, in front of a computer or phone. Green spaces, parks, forests, mountains and water bodies - all of these elements of nature have a positive impact on our mental state and physical health. Understanding why it is the outdoors that makes our bodies feel better has been made possible through research by psychologists and other experts. According to a study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, vivid contemplative contact with nature has a calming effect and also helps lower stress levels. Study participants who spent time in a natural setting reported experiencing improved mood and attitude toward life, as well as reduced anxiety levels. One possible mechanism to explain this calming effect is a combination of parasympathetic activation and a lack of "human race." While our modern lives haunt us with constant deadlines, news acquisition, and other complexities experienced in our environment, on a walk in a natural environment there is no such need for attention to fluid information. As a result, our bodies can relax and enjoy a little-explored state of mind comparable to what can be achieved during a period of meditation. Nature helps improve concentration. Walking outdoors can also help improve concentration. A highly significant university study was performed on children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The children were taken for walks in the park and forest, and researchers noticed that they were calmer and more focused after returning home, and showed improved scores in attention tests. This may be due to the lack of information flows, also mentioned by us earlier. Enjoying the scenery of nature is a natural way of relaxing, which can help to remove unnecessary noise in our minds and with that realize better functioning of our brain activity.