How does Nature Inspire Us?
Those who regularly ditch the phone and drop the remote to take time in the great outdoors know the benefits of tuning into Mother Nature. Not only are you getting physical activity and boosting your vitamin D intake, but are also becoming more calm and focused which in turn allows the mind to invent, produce and imagine; all the hallmarks of creativity.
How to Increase Creativity
A study done in England showed that when office staff made design decisions in a work area with plants versus an area without, productivity increased by 38% and creativity by 45%. Creativity was boosted simply with the addition of a few houseplants. Another study sponsored by the Idaho Department of Lands sought to demonstrate the effect trees in an urban landscape have on people. The study determined that people responded most positively to trees with low, spreading habitats rather than the same setting with inanimate objects. The obvious answer to increasing creativity is to incorporate more plants into your lifestyle. This might mean getting a houseplant or it might mean getting outside more for a walk, hike or bike through a park, forest or coastline.
Inspirational Plants
What plants are inspirational? Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder so too are inspirational plants. Some might find inspiration in the dizzying height of a giant sequoia, others by the gently swaying grasses of the prairie and still others by the simple precision of a pansy. If you live in a concrete jungle, houseplants might be the only option on a day to day basis but if you are lucky enough to have access to a park, green or garden space take advantage of it. Go outside amidst nature to lead a healthier, happier and more creative life.
