trees

Biophilia: Bringing Nature Home

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”

Frank Lloyd Wright

sitting in nature

If you were asked to picture a place where you felt most calm and content, what would you say? A beach? Your favorite chair? Outside in a garden? It is amazing to hear people describe their “happy place.” Most of the time they describe something that is outdoors … a warm, sandy beach, being under the stars or reading on the porch. And yet, they do not realize the deep connection that exists between nature and their health. But it does exist…and it is called biophilia.

Biophilia simply means love of life. The word biophilia was first used by Erich Fromm and made popular by Harvard naturalist Edward Wilson. It is defined as the “love of living things and nature, which some people believe humans are born with.” It is theorized that humans have an innate connection to nature which make us feel content. Perhaps this is why I have a collection of seashells and rocks on the windowsills in my home. Or why I always have an herb on my desk at work and enjoy smelling their fragrance. Nature simply makes me feel better and more alive. And I don’t need to read books or conduct research to know this because I feel it inside me and trust its healing power.

More people are becoming aware of this as well, as there have been four decades of scientific studies which document that spending time in nature clearly improves our health and can (among many things), lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, and increase longevity. But how much time is needed to reap these benefits, you might be asking yourself. There are several schools of thought, but according to one evidenced based study, 120 minutes per week is what is needed to notice the health benefits (about 17 minutes a day or 2 hours a week). The good news is that this time spent outdoors in nature can be as simple as sitting on a park bench or walking around your back yard.

It is easy to incorporate biophilia in your home, work, and in your community. You just need to have a direct contact with nature and live in a way that connects you to outside spaces. For example, at home you can open the blinds and let in more natural sunlight! You can also begin to use natural things such as linens, stones, and driftwood to decorate a home. At work, consider moving your desk, so it is facing an outdoor window that allows you to look outside, see nature and let in fresh air to help you to feel more inspired. And in your community, almost any community space can benefit from a community garden or by simply adding plants to social spaces.

Nature is important for all of us and for many reasons. But today, I hope you will consider spending 17 minutes under a tree! Or at least consider eating your lunch outside because nature matters.

For more information and resources on nature and spending time outdoors, visit the Nature Matters website at go.osu.edu/nature-matters.

Written by: Shari Gallup, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Licking County.

Reviewed by: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Warren County.

Photo Credit: Adobe Stock, 418228306

References:

Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/biophilia

Colino, Stacey. (2023). Brining Nature inside can improve your health. Here’s how to do it. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/06/02/how-to-outdoors-nature-home/

Morris, B. (2020, 02-14). For better health during the pandemic, is two hours outdoors the new 10,000 steps? The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-better-health-during-the-pandemic-is-two-hours-outdoors-the-new-10-000-steps-11613304002

National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture. Plants do that inside where we live.  https://consumerhort.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/PlantsDoThat-Indoors-WhereWeLive.pdf

Sutte, J. (2016). Greater Good Magazine Science Based Insights For a Meaningful Life. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_nature_makes_you_kinder_happier_more_creative

Weir, K. (2020). Nurtured by Nature. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature

White, M.P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J. et al. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep 9, 7730 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3.

How to Do Nature: A Beginners Guide to Going into Nature

I’ve always been curious about the outdoors but never really thought about how or what I do when I’m outside, until recently when a friend asked me, “How do you do nature?”  What a great question! It’s sometimes hard to know what to do when something is new or there is a shift in perspective, so here is a quick guide that will help get you started.

Before you get started here are a few things to keep in mind…first, it does not matter where you live…city country, or in an alleyway…nature IS all around us…if we just stop and notice.  Second, don’t overthink it. Just get out before you change your mind!  Stepping outside into your backyard might be a great place to start and when ready consider going to an Ohio park. Have the courage to turn off the TV and other devices and just go outside. Begin where you feel comfortable…for me it was in my own yard and only took a few minutes, so this does not have to be time consuming unless you want it to be. 

Once outside, you might be asking yourself “What do I do now?” Here are three simple ideas and a place to start:

blue skies, looking up at pine trees
Source: Gallup, S., March 29
  1. LOOK UP. As simple as this sounds…just look up. What do you see? Are you under the trees? Or the clouds?  As you look up, your thoughts begin to slow down, and you may begin to notice things you have not seen before.
  2. LOOK DOWN. What is under your feet? Mud? Grass? Tiny flowers?  Notice how you feel in this moment. Do you feel like sitting? Did you see something you wanted to take a closer look at? It is always amazing to me to see flowers or grass growing out of tiny little cracks in rock or concrete!
  3. LISTEN.  Stop and listen. What do you hear? Birds? Wind? Cars? Is it quiet?  Our senses come alive when we take the time to be still and we notice is amazing.   
Grass with single purple flower

Going into nature might feel a little awkward, but it gets easier the more you go out. For example, I started in my backyard and now this season I have walked the same path each day with my dog. We walk under the pines near the hospital and factories (in the city). I walked that path about 100 times and then one day, suddenly, I noticed that the pine trees I was walking under were all different!! It was a moment of awe and amazement for me!  From there my mind became more curious and found myself in nature more often, craving what few tend to stop and notice.  

I hope you find your way into nature.  Remember…don’t overthink it…just go! And remember to slow down, look up, look down, listen and look all around.

References:

Gallup. S.L. (2021). Falling In Love with Nature. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/05/19/falling-in-love-with-nature/

Stanton, L. M. (2021). Get Out! Celebrate Nature on Earth Day and Every Day. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/04/19/get-out-celebrate-nature-on-earth-day-and-every-day

Written by:  Shari Gallup, MS., Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Science Educator, Licking County, Ohio. Gallup.1@osu.edu.

Reviewed by:  Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County, stanton.60.osu.edu

Falling in Love with Nature

When was the last time you fell in love? Maybe it was when you found a special someone, got a new puppy or saw a beautiful grand-baby for the first time. What about falling in love with nature? It only takes a moment to stop and notice things happening in nature, and the good news is you do not have to be a naturalist to reap the benefits of bringing nature into your daily life!

Experiencing nature can be a simple as stopping to notice the big, puffy white clouds in the sky or watching the sun set from your window. The other day I found beautiful bright pink pinecones on a tree that I walk by every single day and never noticed. When we stop and notice the little things in nature, we begin experiencing a deeper connection to something more.

Pink pinecones
Photo source: Shari Gallup, 2021. “Pink Pinecones.”

Nature has a way of calming and healing the human mind and body. Have you ever noticed that you feel happier when you spend time in nature?

Spending time in nature can reduce blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. Research done in hospitals, offices and schools found that the presence of a plant in a workroom can decrease stress and anxiety, and office plants have been shown to reduce employee sick days and improve work productivity.

It is easy to let daily life go by with the busyness of ballgames, work, and other activities, but it only takes a moment to stop and “smell the roses.”  If it is not possible to get outside, here are a few ways to bring nature inside:

Bring plants indoors: I keep a mint plant on my desk and between meetings, I scratch the leaf to release the oil scent and take a few deep breaths in through my nose. My eyes naturally begin to close, and I become calm. Plants help reduce stress and tension. Choose plants that you enjoy and that are easy to grow indoors, or bring in fresh flowers and place them in a container where you can see them.  

Bring the smell of nature indoors: Bring in aromatic flowers, herbs, or pinecones, or use diffusers, candles, or sprays in natural scents like pine, citrus, lavender, or lemon.

Watch the birds:  Set up a bird or suet feeder near a popular window, grab a pair of binoculars if you have one, and watch nature from indoors. There is a lot of great information available from the National Audubon Society if you are new to bird watching, and there are many benefits to becoming a bird nerd! 

If you want to fall in love with nature, start with something small at first, or choose just one of the suggestions above and go slow…that’s the whole idea!

If you would like to learn more, please join me for a free class on Nature and Nutrition on June 9th at noon!  Register at https://go.osu.edu/wellnessweds.

Written by Shari Gallup, MS, Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Licking County

Reviewed by Jenny Lobb, MPH, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County and Laura Stanton, MS, Family and Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Warren County.

Sources:

Beans, Laura (2014).  Study Shows Living Close to Nature Improves Mental Health. https://www.ecowatch.com/study-shows-living-close-to-nature-improves-mental-health-1881858780.html

National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (2015). #PlantsDoThat. https://consumerhort.org/plantsdothat-3/

University of Minnesota. Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing. Healing Environment. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healing-environment