Do you often wake up in a bad mood? Consider taking a few minutes to watch the sunset in the evening or the sunrise in the morning. It’s good for morale.
- Going for walks in “white spaces”, i.e. snowy landscapes, allows you to better appreciate your body.
- Walking near a “blue space”, namely the sea, a lake or a river, makes us in a better mood.
For the first time, researchers from the University of Exeter (England) have quantified the effects of “ephemeral natural phenomena”, in particular sunrises and sunsets, on mental health. “Landscapes can be dynamic. Many elements of a panorama can change from moment to moment. Some elements are often unexpected and ephemeral and can significantly change the way an environment is perceived”they wrote in a study published in the journal Journal of Environmental Psychology.
As part of this work, scientists conducted an experiment with 2,509 adults. They used state-of-the-art computer graphics technology and showed participants images (with carefully controlled visual parameters) of urban and natural environments, such as rainbows, thunderstorms and starry skies. . “We analyzed ratings for beauty, wonder, and willingness to pay to experience each scene in the real world,” the authors said.
An elevated sense of wonder thanks to sunrise and sunset
According to the team, when these photos featured a sunrise and sunset, the volunteers considered them to be significantly more beautiful than when there were blue, sunny skies at other times of the day.
Unexpectedly, research found that sunrise and sunset could also trigger an increase in the sense of wonder in participants. “This emotion is generally difficult to arouse”, added the researchers in a statement. According to them, this feeling has the potential to improve mood, reinforce social behavior and increase positive emotions. As a reminder, all these factors are valuable for improving general well-being.
Prescribing walks to see “ephemeral natural phenomena”
Scientists have suggested that encouraging people to admire sunrises and sunsets could be used as part of the “green prescription”where nature plays a therapeutic role in supporting mental health. “Our study indicates that getting up a little earlier to see the sunrise or taking a stroll to watch the sunset could be worth it,” said Alexander J. Smalley, author of the work.
“Most of the phenomena we’ve tested can be fleeting and unpredictable, and we believe that this novelty is partly responsible for the effects we observe. Since they can change people’s experience of natural landscapes and urban, it could be very useful to highlight how and where these events can be experienced, especially in cities”, concluded the researcher.
