Author: maggie omalley

My name is Maggie O’Malley and I am a junior majoring in Human Development and Family Studies and minoring in Business. I am from Evergreen Park, IL, and am pursuing a career in the Human Resources field. I am interested in exploring how spending time in nature can help alleviate stress and enhance attentional functioning. I love to spend time outdoors walking and enjoying nature’s beautiful sights. When I am not working on HIN, I can be found spending time with friends and family, reading, and working as a CBTF proctor.

The Protectors of Forests

November 25, 2022November 22, 2022maggie omalley

Forests are a life source for humanity. They provide us with various things that keep us alive, including air, water, food, shelter, and medicine (Nerger, 2022). Despite the importance of forests to humans, trees are going extinct at an accelerated rate because of us. Human-caused climate change is the second most prevalent threat to the extinction of trees (“Up to 135 U.S. tree species face extinction,” n.d.). Deforestation and degradation are also large contributors to tree extinction and a decrease in forest functionality. Deforestation is clearing forested lands on purpose, whereas degradation is when a forest no longer functions well. Deforestation is usually caused by unsustainable and illegal agriculture. Degradation is caused by climate change and illegal logging. Although humans cause the many problems forests are facing, humans can also be the solution to these problems. Indigenous people set the example of how forests should be treated by humans. Forests on Indigenous lands are much healthier than other forests because of how indigenous people care for their lands.

Movies in Nature: The Sound of Music

October 29, 2022November 1, 2022maggie omalley

The musical film The Sound of Music portrays the beautiful landscape of Austria. In the opening scene, Maria von Trapp, played by Julie Andrews, prances in a field in front of the stunning Untersberg mountain. The movie focus on Maria and her new job as a governess for the von Trapp family. Maria falls in love with the father, Captain von Trapp, and his children adore her. The couple gets married and moves the family out of Austria to flee from the Nazis.

We are Losing our Trees

October 11, 2022November 1, 2022maggie omalley

Trees are going extinct. Why should we care? What is being done – and what can we do?

Click the image below to see a presentation about trees, their importance, and how we can save them.

Nature Prescriptions

April 24, 2022April 23, 2022maggie omalley

nature-prescriptions-2 Download

Psychological Benefits of Green Exercise

March 2, 2022May 24, 2022maggie omalley

Research

Exercise has been shown to improve psychological well-being. However, new research provides evidence that green exercise, which is exercising outdoors, has additional benefits. One study compared 4 groups of participants. The first group, called the green control group, cycled outdoors in greenery while the second group, the indoor control group, cycled indoors. The third and fourth groups watched a promotional video on the benefits of green exercise. The third group known as the green-expectancy group watched the video then cycled outdoors and the fourth group known as the indoor-expectancy group cycled indoors after watching the video. Once the exercise was completed, attitudes toward green exercise, vigor, perceived exertion, and self-esteem were assessed, as well as how knowing the positive effects of outdoor exercise before working out can improve the overall benefits.