The start of a new year: a time of optimism, ambitious plans to improve the world, and a grim suspicion that the first few months may be a harrowing tread in the deepest darkness of winter.
But for those who fear the cold and darkness ahead, help is at hand. Canadian researchers are investigating a simple trick to lift your mood even when the days are short and frosty.
“People really need something to help them get through the winter, especially after Christmas,” said Dr. Holian Passmore, a psychologist who led the study at Concordia University in Edmonton, Alberta. “People who hate winter in the first place don't see anything good about it.”
The plan is for at least 100 volunteers to spend two weeks in Edmonton (a city with seven hours of winter sunshine and temperatures that can reach -35 degrees Celsius) between January and March, living a normal life. , but with one small change. .
While out and about, participants will be taught to pay attention to nature amid man-made objects, such as frozen trees next to high-rise buildings, animal tracks on snowy pavement, and icicles hanging from warehouse roofs. . Take note of how it makes them feel.
Before and after the trial, dubbed “Noticing Natural Interventions,” participants completed questionnaires that allowed researchers to assess anxiety, stress, happiness, life satisfaction, and sense of connectedness to the world. do. Next, we consider whether being aware of nature within the built environment can provide any boost.
The volunteers' scores, along with measurements of stress-related salivary enzymes, will be compared to those of a control group who continue to work without being told to change their behavior.
The experiment will run for two weeks to help people develop the habit of noticing nature, but can such a simple trick really make a difference?The simplicity of the intervention may make people uncomfortable. Passmore argues that they should not be allowed to do so. “People tend to underestimate how good they feel when they notice nature,” she says. “Part of that is our entire Western society. We want the pill, we want something new and improved, we always want the latest.”
In addition to parks, trees, and other vegetation, Edmonton is home to squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, beavers, and hundreds of bird species. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, they are easily overlooked. “We know that people are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature,” Passmore says. “Part of the reason is the built environment we live in, but it's also because we keep using our phones. To be honest, we just need to look around.”
Passmore believes that winter has its own unique joys: trees sparkle with hoarfrost, animal tracks visible in the snow, color palettes and soundscapes changing. The cold weather is refreshing and the night sky looks better. “You're more likely to see the stars and the aurora borealis because you don't have to wait until 2 a.m.,” she said. “It's so refreshing to be outside in the winter. I always think of it as a bit of an adventure. It's fun every time I go out.”
Gary Evans, director of the Forest Bath Institute, who runs sessions in the natural world with Forest England and conducts research with universities, says he wants people to stay warm and see the nature around them. called out to him to come outside.
“Many people think they don't have time, but you don't have to,” he added. “Find a manageable starting point. If you walk to work, try to give yourself a few minutes. If you have two routes from the subway, walk along a tree-lined street. . If people enjoy it, they will spend more time on it.”
