Have you ever stepped out of the car (after a traffic-dodging drive from the city) into mountain air, drawn in a deep breath, and felt instantly better? Here's how to cue the same relaxation response at home, by bringing the outdoors in.
The back story: The atmosphere in the homes we create affects us deeply: it can change our behavior and, as a result, our health. Our environment can trigger a stress response (an imprisoning brick wall, stacks of unpaid bills, mounds of dirty laundry) or cue the relaxation response.
Adding nature to our lives is one way to put a few more deep exhales back into the daily grind: a connection to nature is an essential ingredient of human health and well being. Here are ten ways to bring the outdoors in:
Above: Houseplants in the bedroom of rug designer Cassandra Karinsky in Sydney, Australia, via The Design Files.
1. Adopt a house plant. In the 1980s, NASA discovered that plans can improve indoor air quality. And let's not forget that fresh air helps you sleep: Remember, nature is the original Ambien.
Above: Photograph of yellow mimosa flowers from Cécile Daladier.
2. Fresh-cut flowers boost feelings of happiness. As I stroll through the supermarket aisles, I often wonder: is it worth the extra money to buy flowers? They are cheery, no doubt, but they never last long. After reviewing the research, I'm now convinced: Studies have shown that flowers reduce depression and increase positive emotion. Read more in Need to Be Productive? Buy Some Flowers on Greatist and Flower Power in Rutgers Magazine.
3. Growing food helps connect you to the earth. For urban dwellers, compact edible gardens or a few potted herbs can make a dramatic difference in our culinary experience. After growing a bit of lettuce on our back porch, my children now prefer it to the store-bought variety.
Above: A still life of shells and stones is one of many natural collections at Kettle's Yard in Cambridge.
4. Add a small tree, a rock garden, or a terrarium to your indoor space. A verdant tree, like a Fiddle Leaf Fig, or a small rock garden of collected stones or a terrarium can help set the mind at ease after a hectic day.
5. Go out for a mid-day stroll. Getting back to nature can inspire creativity. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" to describe a condition that he says results for our lack of communion with living things. He recommends living in and around natural living things, which boost our creativity, happiness, and health.
Above: A set of herbal tisanes at Babel Restaurant in the Cape Winelands of South Africa.
6. Grow herbs in small pots for a daily dose of energy and performance. Atlanta-based interior designer Ginny Magher (full disclosure: Ginny is married to my father, Craig) recommends growing a variety of kitchen herbs in small pots for a quick tisane. She snips fresh basil or thyme into her tea and finds the scent of fresh herbs provides an early morning mood-boost.
Above: A houseplant in a vintage pale blue pot from At Swim Two Birds.
7. Spend time looking at plants to heal faster. Nature is natural medicine. In 1984, environmental psychologist Rodger Ulrich conducted a study on gallbladder surgery patients, which proved that those whose rooms overlooked trees healed faster than those who looked at a brick wall. Read more in How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal from Scientific American.
Above: A grouping of houseplants in a home office from Hardworking Houseplants; photograph via Home Designing.
8. Spend time around greenery to improve concentration and increase attention span. This benefit holds true for children as well. Studies have shown that children who spend time around plants have better concentration (A "Dose of Nature" for Attention Problems, NY Times). At Waldorf Schools, families are encouraged to build a nature table to reflect changes in the seasons; children are encouraged to collect "treasures" from the outdoors and display them inside to maintain a connection to the present season.
9. Head to a natural environment to improve memory performance by as much as 20 percent. Dr. Esther Sternber, author of Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Wellbeing, says our health extends beyond our physical bodies to include our emotions and the spaces around us. The practice of Feng Shui, the system of harmonizing the human experience with the surrounding environment, echoes this same principle.
Above: At (or past) their prime ranunculus and a few potted plants from At Swim Two Birds.
10. Nurture house plants. Caring for life can channel anxiety into an outlet of altruism and nurturing. In our texting, updating, connected-but-disconnected modern life, we can forget our place in the larger universe; having a life to care for can put it back into perspective—and again, help us feel more alive, at ease, and whole.
For more advice on wellness and balance, see more of our Happier at Home posts: 10 Secrets for a Better Night's Sleep, 10 Cures for TechnoStress, and 10 Tips for Happy Housecleaning.