Nature is good for you! We were told since we were kids to get some fresh air and go play in the park but as we grew older, many people don’t spend time thinking about just how beneficial nature is for us. Here’s a great read about the benefits of bringing a love of nature in your life.

If you can't see any plants

It might be worth changing that. Why? Well, plants reward us just for spending time in their presence. The mere presence of a tree or a houseplant may seem inconsequential in terms of benefits, but scientific findings reveal that the human brain craves greenery.

In recent years, a growing body of scientific research has shed light on the impact of nature on human well-being and how a life devoid of nature can have a negative impact on humans due to our need and love for nature.
The concept of biophilia was coined by psychologist Erich Fromm and popularised by biologist E.O. Wilson in his 1984 book, "Biophilia”. Biophilia means "love of life," and in the 1990s the concept was expanded and transformed into the biophilia hypothesis, which states that "human dependence on nature extends far beyond the simple issues of material and physical sustenance to encompass as well the human craving for aesthetic, cognitive, and even spiritual meaning and satisfaction" (Kellert 1993, p 20).

Today, it is intended as the human’s innate affinity for the natural world, particularly for plants and animals.

Biophilia offers significant benefits and studies have linked biophilic experiences with lower stress levels, improved cognitive function, better sleep, and even faster recovery from surgery.

A very interesting study published in PubMed, involving 420 subjects at 35 different forests throughout Japan, showed a decrease for the subjects in the following physiological parameters compared with those in an urban control group: 12.4% decrease in the cortisol level, 7.0% decrease in sympathetic nervous activity, 1.4% decrease in systolic blood pressure, and 5.8% decrease in heart rate. In addition, the parasympathetic nervous activity was enhanced by 55.0%, indicating a relaxed state.

The benefits extend beyond physical health, fostering a sense of calm and connection with nature.

Whis is biophilia appealing?

Biophilia is a familiar feeling for most people, even if we rarely give it much thought. All we know is that if we walk in the park or immerse ourselves in the wilderness, we come back happier.

The reason why nature resonates so much with us lies in our ancestors and how deep is the historic connection we have with nature. For most of human existence, we lived in close connection with it, relying on forests and grasslands for survival.

However, the rise of urbanisation has increasingly disconnected us from our natural habitat, leading to a phenomenon known as "nature deficit disorder" (Louv, 2005). Given the soothing effects biophilia can provide, modern humans may be losing a valuable source of resilience when we need it most.

Urban jungle life

Luckily, even amid our urban jungles, we can have biophilic experiences. Whether it's a stroll through a city park or a moment of sit in a garden, spending time in our urban green spaces offer benefits including promoting relaxation and well-being.

Briefly visiting a city park can boost concentration, for example, with just 20 minutes yielding results in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can also calm us down and cheer us up, according to a 2015 study from China, Japan. If a park has enough greenery, it might provide other forest-like advantages for people living nearby, such as cleaner air, less noise pollution or even protection from dangerous heat waves.

Biophilic design

Since so much of our lives revolving around and inside buildings, biophilically redesigning those spaces could be an ideal helpful solution to bridge the lack of nature exposure.

Incorporating biophilic elements into our built environment is another way to experience the healing power of plant. That's the idea behind biophilic design. Biophilic design principles emphasise the integration of natural elements, such as daylight, vegetation, and natural materials, into architectural spaces. By mimicking the patterns and processes found in nature, biophilic design enhances human health and well-being.

Interest in biophilic design has flourished in recent year, which is fuelling the increase of projects and constructions that bring wilderness to the city.

Resources:
Kellert, Stephen R., and Edward O. Wilson, eds. (1993). The Biophilia Hypothesis. Washington, DC: Island Press
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2760412/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494423000439
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18725656/
https://www.treehugger.com/how-biophilia-can-improve-your-life-4868182
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24858508/
https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/