or NOTWhat's happeningoutside can affectyour mood.By Paula Hunt

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hen il LÍH1KS to IKT l.ivoHtc k

wcnthcr, 1 l-ycnr-old Hlcna W. kn(iCtly what she likes,

"The sun is our, and there's a cool breeze»" sayshe San Antonio fifth grader.

Patrick J., also 11, likes cold weather the best,fhat's because some of his favorite outdoor activi-ties, such as ice fishing, take place when it's cold^ut. But he doesn't mind other npes of weathergCMïiuch—the Bristol, Conn., fifth i»rader says he

' ids ways to staj busy and happ\ indoors.

Current HealUi 1 March 2D10 1 7

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Scientists say it'snot surprising thatweather can influence

M the way we feel.

Everyone has their favorite kind ofdays. But can the weather actually makeyou feel a certain way?

"Absolutely!" says Marti Erickson,founding board member of the Children& Nature Network. "Weather really doesaffect us. It affects our energy, and it canaffect our mood."

Weather or NotScientists say it's not surprising thatweather affects the way we feel. Spendingat least 30 minutes a day in warm, sunnyweather could improve people's moods,one recent study found. Another studysays that when heat and humidity go up, aperson's good mood can go down.

Fifteen-year-old Sean F., of Olney, Md.,knows what that's like. "When it's hot and

humid and sticky, it makes me feelexhausted," he says. And what about hismood? "Fm grumpy."

But for Pete S., of San Antonio, it'scold, overcast days he can do without.Long days spent indoors make the 16-year-old uneasy. "It makes me feel kind ofclaustrophobic," he says. That's whenpeople feel uncomfortable about being ina closed space.

But being bummed out about theweather is different for some people.Those who have psychiatric disorders,such as schizophrenia, depression, orattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), can be more sensitive to theweather's effects.

If you're bothered by dark winter days,there are treatments to help you feel better.Some people use light therapy boxes,which have bright lights that mimic sun-light. But for most people, things don'tneed to get that complicated.

"One way to increase your light expo-sure is to just go outside," says JenniferVeitch, an environmental psychologist andsenior research officer at the NationalResearch Council Canada in Ottawa."Even when it's overcast or in winter^ theamount of light exposure you can getcould be enough."

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Cure the BluesWith Some GreenGoing outside has other benefits too."Take a hike" takes on a whole newmeaning when you know that nature canaaually help put you in a better mood.Some researchers have found that the out-doors can help people relax and cope withstress, Veitch says.

One study showed that kids with ADHDwere able to focus better after taking walksthrough green areas. Another found thatkids who attended schools that had play-grounds with more natural elements suchas grass and trees were better behaved.

Just what is it about seeing grass or a treethat lifts your mood.^ "Some scientistsbelieve living things like plants and animalsare so important for human survival thatwe are specially adapted to pay attentionto them," explains Johanna Webei; aresearcher at the Landscape and HumanHealth Laboratory at the University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign. "They signala place is a good place to live, so we are putin a good mood just by seeing them."

Weather and nature alone can't make youfeel happy or sad. But understanding thatthey do have an effect on your mood meansyou won't be surprised by your feelings. Or;like Elena's sister Olivia W., 13, you'll knowwhat to do when you need a boost.

"When I come back from a walk in thepark, I feel nice, I feel good, I feel sort ofenergized," she says. "Even if the entire restof your day totally stinks, one walk in thepark for me is a perfect cure for it." CHI

THINK ABOUT ITWhat type of weather makes youfeel happiest? saddest? the mostenergized? What are some waysyou can change how you feelabout certain kinds of weather?I

A Garden aDay Keeps theBlues AwayWhen you can't bring people to nature, whatdo you do? Bring the nature to them! Moreand more nursing homes, hospitals, andschools are doing just that by creating gar-dens and green spaces on their grounds.

Going green has healthy benefits. Peoplewho live in nursing homes feel lessdepressed if there is a garden, studies havefound. Even people in hospitals who can'tget outside feel better when they can seegardens from their windows.

Kids in schools that have natural play-grounds with grass and trees focus betterand are less aggressive than those whodon't have such areas. Schools are turningto nature for teaching too. "Gardens andother outdoor spaces can be turned intoplaces to study science, math, and lan-guage," says Marti Erickson, founding boardmember of the Children & Nature Network.

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Waiden Projectstudent Julia W.reads to herclassmates fromthe Dr. Seussbook The Lorax.

For learning from nature and in nature, it'shard to beat the Waiden Project, a school inVermont that was named after the bookWaiden by Henry David Thoreau. Thoreausaid he did some of his best thinking out-doors. Teachers hold classes outside everyday of the year, in all kinds of weather, withjust a makeshift tent for shelter and a wood-burning stove for warmth.

Current Health 1 March 2010 1 9

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