Even pictures of nature sharpened attention
In two experiments, a walk in nature, or even looking at nature pictures, sharpened attention more than urban settings did.
A walk in nature, or even looking at pictures of nature, sharpened attention more than urban settings did.
The study
In two experiments, the researchers compared the effects of nature and city environments on attention, measured with standard tests of focus and memory. Walking in nature, and in a separate test viewing pictures of nature, improved people's ability to direct their attention more than the urban comparison did. The authors explain this through the idea that nature holds attention gently, letting focused attention rest.
Starting small
When concentration runs low, a short walk among trees, or even a few minutes looking at nature pictures, may help more than a busy street.