Feeling impulsive? Look out the window for a moment.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that looking at images of nature can relieve pain, help you deal with stress, improve your mood and even control impulses, according to Scientific American. Three groups of study participants were asked by researchers at Utah State University to complete tasks in order to see if they could resist instant gratification. The nature group gazed upon photos of mountains, while the other two groups looked at photos of triangles or buildings.
The nature gazers were more likely to avoid impulsivity than the other groups.
The study's lead author Meredith S. Berry, a psychologist now at the University of Montana, told Scientific American that images of nature make us think about the future - thus, making us less apt to jump at an instant reward and more likely to wait for the future, better reward. "When time is expanded, it is easier for people to imagine the future, and this effect appears to lessen the draw of immediate temptations," Berry said.
Stuck at work and a coworker brought in donuts? Try keeping a nature scene as your computer wallpaper. About to text the ex and let him know exactly why you dumped him? Maybe a picture on your phone from a hiking trip you took (without him!) should be the next step before hitting send.
