31/03/2017
The great Escape
Finding it hard to focus attentively? Getting irritated with people for no genuine reason? Feeling cramped and nauseated in the city? Or Are the kids getting a little out of hand, lately?
According to Stephen Kaplan, (Department of Psychology, University of Michigan); "Irritability is a hallmark of a person who cannot draw on directed attention". " Any prolonged mental effort leads to directed attention fatigue". Focusing on anything for too long can lead to mental fatigue, which in turn reduces our effectiveness to solve problems or even maintain coherent thought.
However, any skill worth developing takes hours, if not years of focus.
Restoration is key.
It can be defined as 'the process of renewing physical, psychological and social capabilities diminished in ongoing efforts to meet adaptive demands’.
How would you like to begin your day, rising up early in the morning, taking a long slow walk surrounded by the mountain-side and valley views. Under clear blue skies, accompanied, with the chirpy sounds of morning birds, as they cheerfully pass you by?
Take a fresh, deep breath; of pure forest air. As you gather your thoughts together and begin an amazing new day!
Nature is therapeutic. But how beneficial, really is a long mountain trek? A bonfire, under the heavenly galaxies of stars? Cherishing the moment's pass by, with loved ones, as the mountain breeze whispers its own song?
Ecopsychology, a new development in psychology, seems to have some answers. Researchers studying the effect of environment on physiological processes of the body claim that even just Looking! at unthreatening natural landscapes can have a restoring effect on the autonomic nervous system.
This is largely due to the parasympathetic nervous system, whose main function is to restore and maintain body-energy resources. Non-invasive physiological indicators like the systolic heart rate & skin conductance immediately change their patterns, when a subject is exposed to a natural environment.
In order to enhance the benefits derived from the escape, these are some hot tips to help you select, a great locale for your nature trip.
According to Attention Restoration theory, there are three conditions that an environment should have to facilitate, in order to be restorative.
The first requirement is, the environment should be able to give the subject a conceptual change. Although an escape would mean relative reduction in mental activity. There's no point escaping physically but having the same psychological burdens repeat themselves. Therefore the new environment, should change the direction of one's gaze, or enable the subject to think in a totally new way.
The Second requirement is that the environment should have extent. In other words, it should be rich and coherent enough, with fascinating and engaging elements that constitute a whole other world.
The third requirement is there should be a compatibility in the environment and the subjects purposes and inclinations.
For example, if one enjoys viewing nature with the relative safety and comfort of a home.A home-stay which satisfies all the three conditions should come into mind.
Here, at the End of the road. We have made sure that all these criteria are satisfied. So, apart from great memories; you can also take back a little peace, of mind.
Returning back to your respective environment, rejuvenated & restored.
