VitaminN

Getting Vitamin N(ature) at Night

The night sky above a line of trees with the Milky Way clearly visible.

The health and wellness benefits of Vitamin N(ature) have been documented for over four decades. A quick summary shows that getting outside can:

  • Reduce your risk of chronic disease.
  • Improve your memory and focus.
  • Boost your creativity.
  • Help you heal.
  • Enhance your psychological well-being.
  • Strengthen your immune system.

Most people can personally describe how spending time outdoors and in nature makes them feel happier and healthier. But have you ever thought about getting Vitamin N at night?

In a world dominated by artificial light and screen time, the night has become something we often avoid or overlook. Yet, celebrating the night and embracing natural darkness offers profound health benefits.

Dr. Joe Blanda, a retired orthopedic surgeon, emphasizes that reconnecting with the night sky can be a powerful tool for improving overall well-being. Historically, humans have had a deep connection to the cosmos. From ancient cave art to celestial navigation, the night sky has guided and inspired us. Today, however, excessive exposure to artificial light at night is harming human health. It disrupts our circadian rhythms which can lead to sleep disturbances, metabolic issues, and increased risks of conditions like obesity, diabetes, mood disorders, and even cancer.

Natural darkness, on the other hand, helps restore balance. It allows our bodies to produce melatonin, a hormone essential for sleep and cellular repair. Spending time in the dark is a valuable source of Vitamin N. A recent study stated, “Feeling connected to nature [and the night sky] can give individuals a sense of purpose and meaning in life…[and] experiencing the beauty and wonder of the natural world can evoke positive emotions and a sense of awe, which can lead to increased overall happiness.”

To reap these health benefits, consider taking nighttime walks, stargazing, joining a full moon hike, or going camping where there is less light pollution. Explore your local parks to see if they have evening programs dedicated to bird migration, bats, meteor showers, fireflies, moths, owl prowls, salamander migration, or the night sky.

Another important consideration is advocating for darker environments around our homes and in our communities. Reducing artificial light supports not only human health but also the well-being of nocturnal wildlife. DarkSky International has helpful education resources about light pollution and easy solutions we can implement in our homes, at work, and in our communities.

Ultimately, celebrating the night is about more than just health— it is about reclaiming a part of our human experience that has been lost in the glow of modern life. By stepping outside and looking up, we reconnect with the rhythms of nature, restore our internal balance, and rediscover the beauty and healing power of the night.

To learn more about the powerful health and wellness benefits of nature, visit go.osu.edu/Nature-Matters.

Resources:
DarkSky International: https://darksky.org
DarkSky Ohio: https://www.facebook.com/DarkSkyOhio
Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion

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

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, OSU Extension, Wood County, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator.

Seeking Awe in Nature

In the last two months, many people across our state and nation experienced two awe inspiring events: the total solar eclipse and the Aura Borealis. While the total solar eclipse had been on everyone’s radar for months, if not years, the Northern Lights last weekend came as a pleasant surprise to most of us. As I witnessed both events, I felt joy, wonder, excitement, and an emotion that I identify as awe. I had goosebumps and even shed some happy tears as I watched the sun disappear in April and saw colorful lights dance across the night sky last weekend.

The Northern Lights near Oregon, OH. Photo taken by Laura M. Stanton, May 10, 2024.

So, what is awe? According to Dacher Keltner, the Director at the Greater Good Science Center, awe is “the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world. When people feel awe, they may use other words to describe the experience, such as wonder, amazement, surprise, or transcendence.” Scientists began studying awe over 20 years ago and they believe awe offers a range of benefits including calming our nervous systems and relieving stress.

Piercarlo Valdesolo, a professor at Claremont McKenna College, explains that awe occurs when “you see something that you perhaps haven’t noticed before, and you realize there’s a lot more to it than you previously had thought. It’s almost like you’re peering into a world that you hadn’t seen before. Something is opening up to you.” The power of awe is that it makes you realize there’s something bigger or beyond yourself. In other words, it can help you get out of your own head.

Although the solar eclipse and the northern lights were significant events, awe can be found every day, in the small things. In fact, science shows that taking a moment each day to seek out awe has long-term, positive effects on your health and wellness. Here are a few tips for finding more awe in your life:

  1. If possible, seek a new location to explore.
  2. Silence your phones and electronics.
  3. Look at the world with childlike curiosity and wonder.
  4. Be present and pay attention to all your senses.
  5. Explore the moments and sights that catch your attention. Is it the landscape? Tiny patterns of light and shadow? Let your attention move from the vast to the small.
  6. Ask yourself big questions. What makes you curious? What do you want to learn or understand more?
  7. Pay attention to how you feel during and after your outing.

The next time you need a positive boost, seek awe. Remember it can be as simple as peering out your window or getting outside. For example, when I looked closely at this sunflower in my backyard, I noticed a mandala in the center. I think it is amazingly beautiful!

A close-up view of a large sunflower.

How about you? Please share your awe inspiring experiences in the natural world. Awe not only boosts our minds and bodies, but it can also boost social connections and the feeling of belonging.

To learn more about the powerful health and wellness benefits of nature, visit go.osu.edu/Nature-Matters.

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

Reviewed by: Heather Reister, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County.

Photo Credits: Laura M. Stanton.

Sources

Doucleff, M. (2021, June 29). Awe appears to be awfully beneficial. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2021/06/29/1011415113/awe-appears-to-be-awfully-beneficial

Eagle, J. and Amster, M. (2023). The Power of Awe: Overcome Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose―In Less Than 1 Minute Per Day. Hachette Go.

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley (2024). What is awe?https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/awe/definition

Keltner, D. (2023). Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Penguin Press.

Keltner, D. (2023, February 14). How to take an awe walk. Mindful. https://www.mindful.org/how-to-take-an-awe-walk

National Public Radio. (2023, January 13). Transformative Power of Awe. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/06/1174476949/transformative-power-of-awe

Reynolds, G. (2020, October 1). An ‘awe walk’ might do wonders for your well-being. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/well/move/an-awe-walk-might-do-wonders-for-your-well-being.html