It's common sense that our brains work best when we reduce fatigue levels and our energy levels are high. That's when we're more likely to adopt new ideas and access our highest mental abilities. OK, so how do we get there? According to theJournal of Environmental Psychology, just twenty minutes a day in nature may be all we need for our brains to refresh, restore and function at a high level. Researcher David Strayer of the University of Utah says, "Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally healthier when we are interacting with nature."
Good for Your Brain
The Journal cites several other recent studies which found that spending time in nature provides clear cognitive benefits. For example: a group of teens who spent time walking in an arboretum did better in short-term memory tests than another group of students who had just walked down busy streets. The results showed that those in the arboretum had significantly less stress, and reported better moods and less anxiety, than those who walked in the urban setting. The researchers concluded that being in nature had a beneficial effect on stress reduction, beyond what exercise alone might have produced.
Inspiration and Perspiration
It was nature that inspired inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford at their historically preserved winter estates. Located near downtown Fort Myers, the garden paths and laboratory halls of those great thinkers will inspire attendees today who can walk in their footsteps. Your group can see first-hand how those natural settings fueled the legendary creativity of those innovators. "Time and time again, we've seen how our natural setting can inspire meetings attendees to rejuvenate and re-motivate," says Jill Vance, Director of Sales for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
Strayer and colleagues are also specifically looking at the effects of technology. In one story, they monitor people's EEG readings while they walk in an arboretum, either talking on their cell phone or not. They found that participants with cell phones have EEG readings consistent with attention overload and can recall only half as many details of the arboretum, compared to those who were not on a cell phone.
Nature in Southwest Florida
One example of how nature plays a large part in creating a peaceful business setting is in Fort Myers & Sanibel. Take the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where hundreds of species of exotic birds and sea life will help groups relieve stress and regain focus and clarity.
For more information on holding your next meeting in a superb natural setting, visit FortMyers-Sanibel.com/Meetings
Click to contact these venues for more details:
South Seas Island Resort
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
Promenade at Bonita Bay