How Connecting With Nature Benefits Us
If you want to make some positive connections, turn to nature. Research shows positive correlations between nature and human health and intelligence, and it only takes one walk in the woods to feel the benefits of nature at work. Workplaces that incorporate nature into their designs have employees who are shown to be more productive, healthy, and creative. It has been shown that patients who are placed in rooms with a view of nature heal faster. In a study done by the Wildlife Trust that encouraged people to spend time each day in the month of June in nature, participants showed increased health and happiness. And after the study ended, they had increased their connection to nature. For Dr. Miles Richardson, an author of the study, the results weren’t a surprise, but the extent to which the connection to nature increased is important to remember. “A key point was that the improvement in health was influenced by the improvement in happiness, but this relationship was mediated by the increase in connection to nature,” Richardson says. Building a relationship with nature has a positive effect on us, and
if you’ve ever looked out at a beautiful sunset or listened to waves lap against the shore, you’ve probably felt this. After all, we were made to exist here.
While it can feel like the natural world is far removed from our lives, really, there are reminders of it all around us. If you haven’t made time for it lately, don’t wait for your next vacation to connect with nature. There are a few ways you can incorporate the natural world into your daily life. Get your coworkers together for a walk on your lunch break or take a walk on the beach when you get home. There are a few natural areas around West Palm Beach, like Winding Waters Natural Area and Royal Palm Beach Pines. Urban gardens, like Mounts Botanical Garden, provide a peaceful setting to immerse yourself in.
Make it a goal this month to get outside more, and feel the happiness and health boost you get from your connection to nature.
have a LAUGH
Spicy, Creamy Sweet Potatoes
ingredients
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5 pounds sweet potatoes 1 cup canned coconut milk
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1/2 cup dark brown sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 F. On a large sheet pan, bake potatoes until very soft, approximately 75 minutes. 2. Let potatoes cool until they are safe to handle, then peel and mash. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk and curry paste. Once mixed, add the mixture, salt, half the sugar, and half the butter to potatoes. 4. 30 minutes before serving, heat oven to 425 F. Spread potatoes in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. 5. Uncover potatoes and dot with remaining butter and sugar. Broil until brown, crusty, and delicious. Serve hot.
Inspired by The New York Times
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