Reconnect with Nature to Sharpen the Mind

It’s the start of another school year! That means sitting in class, homework, organization, studying, tests, communicating with schools (and your child about things they don’t care about), and of course layers of stress and anxiety about marks, deadlines and whether any of this information will ever be used in real life. And to top it all off...this year is being interrupted before it really even gets started.

Two of the most challenging aspects of any new school year is sustaining focus and attention in class and developing good study and homework habits out of class. Let’s look at attention and focus first. Being in control of what you focus on and what information you prioritize is called Directed Attention. This is a finite resource; it takes energy to maintain it. When it gets depleted, you enter a state of attention fatigue and slide into Involuntary Attention. This attention state is characterized by being attracted to whatever environmental factors are most captivating (the shiniest, the loudest, the screen), by being distracted, and by day dreaming. Involuntary Attention takes almost no effort but also doe nothing to recharge the brain’s attention system (it’s kind of like being lazy).

Lucky for us there is a way to restore Directed Attention, Time In Nature (TIN). There has been considerable research in neuroscience, psychology and education about this phenomenon, showing how TIN directly supports concentration, focus, increased cognitive abilities, and learning outcomes for children in school.

How Time In Nature Supercharges Attention and Focus

1. Restores Attention

• Nature offers a soft fascination- things like leaves rustling, water flowing, or birds singing—that gently hold our attention without draining it.

• This gives the brain’s attention system a chance to rest and recharge, replenishing our Directed Attention and improving focus and concentration.

• When children and youth spend Time In Nature they return to class or their desk at home, with improved ability to focus, resist distractions and sustain concentration

2. Boosts Working Memory

• Natural environments seem to reduce “cognitive load,” freeing up space in working memory. In one study, people who took a walk in nature performed better on memory tests than those who walked in urban settings.

• Spending time in green spaces, or even looking at pictures of nature, or out a window have been shown to improve short term memory and recall

3. Enhances Creativity and Problem-Solving

• Time In Nature increases divergent thinking (the ability to generate many ideas).

• Nature allows the mind to wander in productive ways, leading to fresh insights.

• Researchers have found that multi day hikes can improve problem solving by up to 50%.

4. Facilitates Movement and a Physical Reset

• Time In Nature often involves physical activity, which boosts blood flow to the brain and

  increases alertness.

• A short TIN break can work like a mental reset, allowing children and youth to sustain

  focus longer once they return to their work.

5. Improves Executive Function

• Children and youth who have regular Time In Nature often show improvements in

  executive functions like self-regulation, impulse control, planning, flexible thinking, and

  academic performance.

• Children and youth with ADHD particularly have shown significant improvement in

  concentration and impulse control after Time In Nature.

• Adults show improvement in decision making and task switching as well.

6. Reduces Stress → Frees Cognitive Resources

• Stress and anxiety suck up valuable mental energy and focus.

• Time In Nature reduces cortisol levels, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (regulating your body’s reactivity)

• With stress lowered, more brainpower is available for learning, remembering, and creative thinking.

• Children and youth feel more relaxed and are better able to concentrate without being overwhelmed by stress and overstimulation.

Nature can also teach us valuable lessons about how to study and prepare for schoolwork- at home or in the classroom. Good study skills and work habits aren’t just important to pass grade school. Study skills give children and youth the tools to learn effectively, manage time, be more organized and reduce stress. Being prepared increases confidence and independence. Children and youth take ownership of their own learning and often see the results of their preparation in the success they have in assignments and tests. Study skills help develop critical thinking and increase deep learning and retention making knowledge stick for the long term and not just be an exercise in memorizing and regurgitating. Study skills and good work habits contribute to a skill set that carries forward into careers, healthy relationships, and an everyday life worth living.

What Nature Can Teach Us About Study Skills

1. The Power of Cycles

Nature works in rhythms: day and night, seasons, tides. Our brains learn best when we study in cycles too. Short, focused bursts of learning followed by breaks mirror the way nature rests and renews. Just as winter restores the earth, breaks restore your focus.

2. Deep Roots for Lasting Growth

Trees don’t grow tall without strong roots. In the same way, your study habits need a solid foundation. Instead of cramming, build deep “roots” with active recall, regular review, and layering new knowledge onto what you already know. Strong roots mean lasting memory.

3. Adaptability in Changing Conditions

Plants bend toward sunlight, rivers carve new paths, animals migrate. Nature adapts to survive and thrive. Good studying requires the same flexibility—if one method isn’t working (say, rereading notes), adapt to a more effective one (like teaching the material aloud).

4. Diversity Makes Systems Stronger

Healthy ecosystems are diverse. In the same way, your brain learns better when you use different approaches—reading, drawing diagrams, practicing problems, teaching others. Variety strengthens retention and keeps your study sessions lively.

5. Stillness Has Its Place

Forests thrive not only in storms but also in still moments. Quiet reflection, meditation, or simply a walk outside helps consolidate learning. Studies show that spending Time In Nature lowers stress and improves focus—two essentials for effective studying,

So how do you support your child or teen to operationalize the incredible teaching and benefits of Time In Nature? Download this helpful TIN Strategies and the TIN Study Skills Checklist.

To learn more, contact Dylan.