One Minute Vacations

What are One Minute Vacations?  How do they improve well-being?

Great question!  Doctors/psychologists/ professionals have long recognized the importance of our connection to nature.  When people spend time in nature they return more relaxed and with higher self-esteem, having put the various stressors in their life into perspective.  The great news is that focusing on nature photographs also provides these same benefits!

A quick Google search for "the benefits of nature as a stress reliever" found a 'mere' 40,300,000 results, including many indicating that immersing oneself within a picture can be an effective substitute to a walk in the woods for those unable to escape to a "real" vacation.

A Picture of Bryce Canyon National Park with rainclouds in the distance.

Personally, it was huge when I learned the benefits of escaping into a photograph.  When I was working as a professor or college vice president, I'd find myself stressed from struggling with a thorny problem, working with a challenging individual, or simply trying to balance too many issues on my plate.  I eventually realized that it was important to take a minute by escaping into a favorite nature photograph.  I found that these 'One Minute Vacations' significantly reduced my stress, helped me put things into perspective, and re-energized me.  While I couldn't go hiking physically, I could certainly return to nature in my mind with the aid of a beautiful photograph.

Photograph of a red sunset with fiery clouds over mountain ranges fading into the distance.

So in addition to sharing prints of our beautiful world, I also hope that my photography helps you relax, focus, and energize throughout your day!

 

Learn more:

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-spending-more-time-outside-is-healthy-2017-7#enjoying-the-outdoors-helps-eliminate-fatigue-4

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337571232_Physiological_Benefits_of_Viewing_Nature_A_Systematic_Review_of_Indoor_Experiments

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/05/26/viewing-nature-can-help-your-brain-work-better-study-finds/