School is no stranger to similarly constructed classrooms. Across multiple hallways in public schools, it is common to see an assortment of desks and tidy rooms, often absent from direct sunlight and nature. Therefore, since rooms may be lacking sunlight and nature, some classes should occasionally be hosted outdoors.
According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, there is a positive association between sunlight exposure and mental health. The study followed 787 operating room nurses who have limited exposure to sunlight and were assessed through self-reports. The researchers concluded that an increase in sunlight exposure would be beneficial to operating room nurses.
Students—while not operating room nurses—are often victim to poor natural lighting conditions. Circumstantially, there is limited consistency with open windows in classrooms. Some teachers leave their blinds open, while others close them. There are many valid reasons a teacher might close blinds, though that does not disregard the potential impact on students. Consequently, it is important to compensate by encouraging direct sunlight in a school setting.
Sunlight is far from the only aspect of nature to improve mood. Trees also play a critical role in improving health and wellbeing.
“Spending time around trees reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood,” U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program Communications Strategist Regan Davis Hopper said. “Simply viewing nature from a hospital window can speed recovery time.”
Allowing students to be in the vicinity of trees could only serve to improve their moods. Since trees reduce stress and anxiety, they could naturally serve as a passive way to calm students. For example, taking a class outside before a test might alleviate test anxiety. Students may also have a better mood during their testing period. Hopper witnessed these very benefits of nature on his father.
“He was assigned to a room that looked out at a brick wall,” Hopper said. “He didn’t like it and started asking to see trees and get fresh air. He believed nature would help him feel better. He was right.”
Hopper’s father directly saw the benefits of nature. Like students, he spent a significant amount of time indoors. Once he went outside, he began to feel better both mentally and physically. Hopper felt that his father’s recovery was aided by simply spending more time outside.
Unsurprisingly, the story of Hopper’s dad has a scientific basis. According to the American Psychological Association contributor Kirsten Weir, general aspects of nature are related to stress regulation and happiness. There are also associations to increased cognitive ability in some environmental experiments.
A trip or class hosted in an outdoor environment might further reinforce mood improvements beyond sunlight and trees. Other aspects, such as sound or wind, might improve academic performance.
Breathing in fresh air might clear thoughts. Unlike classrooms which remain constant, there is seasonal and natural joy to experience in nature. The composition of sound and sky might be exactly what someone needs for their mental health.
