Wow! The Awe-Inspiring Health Benefits of Sunrises and Sunsets

"Ephemeral events in nature can boost your mood or improve physical well-being, new research suggests

“Our research indicates that getting up a bit earlier for sunrise or timing a walk to catch sunset could be well worth the effort — the ‘wow’ factor associated with these encounters might unlock small but significant bumps in feelings of beauty and awe, which could in turn have positive impacts for mental well-being,” said study leader Alex Smalley, a PhD fellow at the University of Exeter.

And wow, there are also wonderful side benefits to that suggestion:

• Getting natural outdoor light in the morning or the physical activity of an evening walk are excellent ways to keep your brain and body energized during the day and properly prepped for good sleep at night, and otherwise boost physical and mental health.
• Also, being in nature, all by itself, has been found to be good for the body and mind, and especially so if you experience a little awe out there.

Awe is more than an emotion

Awe isn’t among the most thoroughly studied emotions, and it can be difficult to elicit — especially if we sit inside all day and don’t seek it out. But past research found awe, whether inspired by nature, a work of art, an act of kindness, or other means, can improve mood and increase positive emotions, sharpen the mind, and enhance prosocial behavior.

“Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world,” says Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley and author of the new book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.

Awe is an emotion distinct from joy, and it’s more than just an emotional feeling, Keltner contends. It can give you goosebumps. It releases the so-called love hormone, oxytocin. It stimulates the vague nerve system that affects everything from heart rate and breathing to digestion.

The new study, detailed in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, is billed as the first to quantify the awe of natural events, and differs from past studies of awe which, even if done in natural settings, tended to involve blue skies, not sunsets, rainbows or other amazing events."

Read the full article on Medium

✨Takeaway: Sometimes, scientific research confirms what we already instinctively feel. Research has shown that sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows inspire a great 'awe' that is good for your wellbeing in many ways.

✨Reflection: Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

#Sunrises #Sunsets #Health #Benefits #Mood #Wellness #Wellbeing

If you liked this article, you may also enjoy: Stargazing: The Wellbeing Reasons to Try It