Phots and Text by: Nalani Depina

As a society, we have advanced significantly in technology and construction. But with every new highway constructed or building devolved, nature is being torn down and destroyed. Now with so many blinding distractions, it’s easy to forget where we once came from. Whether roaming through a vast forest or taking care of a small plant at home, it’s important to remember to incorporate nature into our daily lives.

When waking and walking through your home, what do you see? How about when you’re walking to work and school and running errands? One major thing could determine this question, where do you live? Are you in a small apartment in a cramped city or in a lush house in the suburbs?  In the suburbs, the streets are lined with trees, and most houses have lush laws and even gardens. But what is it like in the city? A recent study by Richard Fray showed that the population has grown larger in suburban counties compared to urban counties, with the stark exception of the middle-aged population. A population chart from the Pew research center shows that “the 25- to 44-year-old population increased by only 800,000 in the suburbs, trailing the 2.2 million gain of the center counties.” What is this largely increasing population’s experience with nature in their everyday city lives?

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When getting out of bed, do you wake up to a room that’s cold and empty or a room full of sunshine and plants on their windowsills?

Which would you prefer to wake up to?

Indoor plants are one of the easiest and best ways that city dwellers can have access to nature, especially after the recent catastrophic event of Covis-19 that left millions of people locked up alone indoors. There has been a lot of recent research done on the subject of indoor plants and their benefits. Back in 2015, a scientific study was published in the PMC Journal of Physiological Anthropology by the team of Min-sun Lee, Juyoung Lee, Bum-Jin Park, and Yoshifumi Miyazaki.  Their study examined the psychological and physiological benefits of interacting with indoor plants, and their research concluded that indoor plants indeed have a significant effect of reducing stress through “suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity and diastolic blood pressure and promotion of comfortable, soothed, and natural feelings.” Many other articles used this study as a reference to defend and elaborate on the benefits of plants and encourage more people to start getting their own. The mental health benefits of raising indoor plants are an excellent choice, especially for people struggling with anxiety and depression.

In 2021 Affinity Health published an article describing the benefits houseplants have on your mental health. Along with giving you a taste of nature…

• Plants can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression by releasing serotonin through a bacteria found in plant soil called ‘Mycobacterium vaccae.’ 
• Plants can make you feel more productive and possibly boost your creativity by reducing stress levels and helping you think clearly. 
• Plants improve air quality and can add humidity to the air, which helps during dry winter months.
• Plants have a calming effect that can help increase concentration and memory retention by up to 20% 

Raising small cacti and succulents is a great start for new plant owners. They require little maintenance and only need water every few weeks. They can be found at most grocery stores and are even low in price. If you want a small step to start incorporating nature into your life more, consider going out to buy one.

Raising indoor plants or succulents is a great option for integrating nature into your city life. However, it might not be the right fit for everyone, such as animal owners or families with small children. However, there is always the second and even better option of experiencing nature outdoors. When most people think of nature, they think of dense forests and the wilderness, and while that is true, there is also a large variety of nature integrated into cities if you take the time to look. Many organizations, such as the Nature Conservatory, work hard to improve Urban life by doing things like planting millions of trees and teaching communities how to be self-sustaining and more integrated with nature. Consider going out to explore your city or research to find which parks or areas are near your neighborhood. Going for a walk with your dog or family is not only a great possibility to see nature but also a great bonding experience.

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When you’re walking around at school or in the city, where do you look?

Are you looking down at your phone? Or are you taking the time to look up and observe your surrounding?

so many students and adults are addicted to our cell phones. And it’s understandable because it’s so easy to get lost in technology nowadays. With the world available at our fingertips, it’s easy to get distracted by texting or picking music, or playing a game. But it’s necessary to set time aside to take a break and ground yourself in nature. All you have to do to appreciate the nature around you is to look up, take a deep breath and enjoy it.

Photos of campus nature

We live in an age of convenience where anything you imagine could be delivered to your doorstep. Especially after experiencing quarantine, more people have become accustomed to staying most of the day indoors. Even now, after everything is returning to normal, some people might think taking the time to go out for a walk or hike is too hard to fit into their schedules or only think of the drawbacks like bad weather and bugs. But there are so many benefits to spending time in nature that most people are not aware of.

In 2017, a research agenda was published for PMC on the benefits of nature contact and human health. This study was done by a group of American scientists, including; Howard Frumkin, Gregory N. Bratman, Sara Jo Breslow, Bobby Cochran, Peter H. Kahn Jr, Joshua J. Lawler, Phillip S. Levin, Pooja S. Tandon, Usha Varanasi, Kathleen L. Wolf, and Spencer A. Wood. This research studied the evidence-based health benefits of nature contact, including analysis of a spectrum of natural forms and their frequencies, from having potted plants to going on extreme wilderness adventures. This research included an extensive list of 20 health benefits:

This research included an extensive list of 20 health benefits:

1. Reduced stress
2. Better sleep
3. Improved mental health:
 -Reduced depression and anxiety
4. Greater happiness, well-being, life satisfaction
5. Reduced aggression
6. Reduced ADHD symptoms
7. Increased prosocial behavior and social connectedness
8. Lower blood pressure
9. Improved postoperative recovery
10. Improved birth outcomes

11. Improved congestive heart failure
12. Improved child development
13. Improved pain control
14. Reduced obesity
15. Reduced diabetes
16. Better eyesight
17. Improved immune functions
18. Improved general health:
– In adults, cancer survivors, and children
19. Reduced mortality
20. Asthma and/or allergies (studies show both improvements and exacerbations)

Do you believe all of that could be true? Can doing simple things like raising indoor plants or going out to explore nature in your city really have so many benefits? Why not test it out for yourself? When your commute to work or school tomorrow, take the time to notice and explore the nature around you, whether it be just a few trees or a beautiful flower garden. Take time to go but a succulent for your windowsill, or go for a walk with your family and friends. Who knows, you could reap incredible benefits from it and learn to love and appreciate the nature around you.