{"id":9975,"date":"2017-11-15T09:06:27","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T14:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=9975"},"modified":"2017-11-15T09:06:27","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T14:06:27","slug":"have-you-had-a-nature-fix-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/have-you-had-a-nature-fix-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Have You Had a Nature Fix Today?"},"content":{"rendered":"

At a recent gathering of Mass Audubon supporters, Florence Williams shared what she learned in writing The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Those in attendance were so inspired by her talk that we reached out to Florence afterward to ask her a few questions.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Florence Williams; Photo Mikaela Steinwedell<\/p><\/div>\n

What inspired you to write this book?<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve always felt very connected to the natural world, and for most of my adult life I was fortunate to live in the Rocky Mountains with trails and wildlife all around. But five years ago, we moved to the heart of Washington, D.C. It made me think a lot about the connections I\u2019d lost.<\/p>\n

I wondered what the latest research had to say about how our surroundings affect our mood, cognition and health. I was also interested in how to reconnect to nature \u00a0within densely urban environments. Fortunately, there was a lot of fascinating new information out there.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your first or most memorable introduction to nature?<\/h3>\n

I spent a lot of time in city parks as a little kid, but my introduction to wilder nature came from camping and canoeing with my dad. I remember being about 7 when he taught me how to jump across boulders in a creek. I remember the adventure of it, as well as the sparkling light and water, the sensory fulfillment. I was hooked as a river and water person.<\/p>\n

What are a few of the most important health benefits one gets from connecting with nature?<\/h3>\n

It seems like the main factor is stress reduction. Being in pleasant natural environments\u2014even for short periods of time\u2014can lower our blood pressure and reduce stress hormones. Large-scale epidemiological studies show that people living near green space have significantly lower mortality rates, including lower rates for some cancers, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory distress. This was even after adjusting for income.<\/p>\n

In fact, the lower your socio-economic status, the greater the health benefits. Nature appears to be a social leveler. So that\u2019s pretty cool. And kids who spend more time in nature seem to have better emotional regulation, social skills and self confidence.<\/p>\n

When researching the book, what surprised you the most?<\/h3>\n

I wasn\u2019t surprised by the health and mood benefits of being outside, but I was surprised by some of the cognitive boosts and some of the social benefits, for example that people tend to behave more generously after experiencing the awe of the outdoors. Nature actually makes us more civilized.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>How do you, personally, get your nature fix?<\/h3>\n

I had to learn how to find nature in the city and maximize its benefits. Nearly every day, I spend at least 30 minutes in a nearby city park when I walk my dog. We go out in all seasons, and I cultivate being mindful when I\u2019m there. So I take the earbuds out and make an effort to look around at the birds, the buds on the trees, sometimes even feel the bark or smell some pine needles.<\/p>\n

I enjoy watching the fractal patterns of ripples on the creeks in the parks or the concentric rings the feeding fish make in the canal near my house. I also walk my dog in the neighborhood every evening, where I like to check in on the moon or the sunset. And I think being outside at night helps re-set my circadian rhythms to prepare for a good night\u2019s sleep. It\u2019s not the deep, dark, Colorado night sky, but it\u2019s something.<\/p>\n

If a reader takes away just one thing from your book, what would you want it to\u00a0be?<\/h3>\n

Go outside! Go often. Bring friends or not. Breathe.<\/p>\n

\n

You can purchase\u00a0The Nature Fix<\/em><\/a>\u00a0online via the Audubon Shop, where all purchases go toward protecting the nature of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At a recent gathering of Mass Audubon supporters, Florence Williams shared what she learned in writing The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. Those in attendance were so inspired by her talk that we reached out to Florence afterward to ask her a few questions. What inspired you to write […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":9991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[185,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shop","category-stuff-we-love"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/IMG_4887-600.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-2AT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10602,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-caption-this\/","url_meta":{"origin":9975,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Caption This!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's play \"Caption That Photo\"! Below are five photos of animals making funny faces or poses, submitted to our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest. What hilarious captions can you come up with?","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/3434Wayne_Wetherbee17375_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/3434Wayne_Wetherbee17375_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/3434Wayne_Wetherbee17375_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16547,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/get-ready-for-hike-a-thon\/","url_meta":{"origin":9975,"position":1},"title":"Get Ready for Hike-a-thon","author":"Hillary T.","date":"November 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Ready to hit the trails for Hike-a-thon this weekend? First, be sure to enter the drawing to win a free guided hike for you and 8 friends at a future date. Then, check out a few resources to make your adventures fun and educational! Fun and Games \u2192 Try to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hiking in the wods","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_7157-750x500-229130c1-229d-4d53-bec9-c512ca43d0be.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_7157-750x500-229130c1-229d-4d53-bec9-c512ca43d0be.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_7157-750x500-229130c1-229d-4d53-bec9-c512ca43d0be.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/11\/DSC_7157-750x500-229130c1-229d-4d53-bec9-c512ca43d0be.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10135,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/everyday-nature-heroes\/","url_meta":{"origin":9975,"position":2},"title":"Everyday Nature Heroes","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As the season of giving approaches, I want to thank you\u00a0 for what you do to protect the nature of Massachusetts every day. Together, you are 125,000 strong: members, volunteers, and passionate advocates who act, speak, and even march on behalf of wildlife and wild lands. Because of you, there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/11\/GT2600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/11\/GT2600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/11\/GT2600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11941,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/thank-you-to-all-the-nature-heroes\/","url_meta":{"origin":9975,"position":3},"title":"Thank You To All The Nature Heroes","author":"Hillary T.","date":"November 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, at a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary near you, you helped to save something truly extraordinary. You did it last week, and the week before that. In fact, you did it every day this year. And you are in the very best of company: your friends, neighbors, and 125,000 like-minded\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy Owl \u00a9 David Morris","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/David_Morris750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/David_Morris750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/David_Morris750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/11\/David_Morris750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7383,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/100th-day-celebration\/","url_meta":{"origin":9975,"position":4},"title":"100th Day Celebration – April 9","author":"Hillary T.","date":"April 4, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Where will you be on the 100th\u00a0day of the year? We hope it\u2019s with us! Join us on Saturday, April 9, for a special \u201c100th\u00a0Day Celebration\u201d at Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries across the state. Enjoy free admission, guided nature walks, and family friendly, hands-on activities at most sites. Experienced naturalists\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sanctuaries 100"","block_context":{"text":"Sanctuaries 100","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/sanctuaries-100\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sanctuaries 100th","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/MA_100th_4x4sq-1024x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15753,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/celebrate-juneteenth-what-to-read-watch-listen-to-and-follow\/","url_meta":{"origin":9975,"position":5},"title":"Celebrate Juneteenth: What to Read, Watch, Listen to, and Follow","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Juneteenth, a portmanteau of \"June\" and \"nineteenth\", commemorates the end of slavery in the United States each year on June 19. Because the enslaved ancestors of many Black Americans were not free on July 4, 1776, many consider Juneteenth their true Independence Day and a day to celebrate Black history,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A Black man looking through a pair of binoculars at a wildlife sanctuary","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/Nature-Hero-Video-Still-1-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/Nature-Hero-Video-Still-1-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/Nature-Hero-Video-Still-1-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/Nature-Hero-Video-Still-1-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9975"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10020,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9975\/revisions\/10020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}