New studies by researchers at the University of Rochester monitored the effects of natural versus artificial environments on human behavior, and found that nature makes us all nicer to be around. Among the findings, people who were exposed to nature were kinder, more social and more receptive to close personal interaction.

I can’t say I’m surprised. After all, it’s widely accepted that spending time in nature reduces stress, speeds healing, and improves physical and mental vitality. It’s easy to assume that these benefits are primarily the result of physically being in natural environments, but the Rochester research found that looking at nature provides some of the same effects. Study participants treated others with more kindness after viewing landscapes on a computer screen than after viewing hard cityscapes.

I suppose we’re lucky that we spend so much time outside in some of the southwest’s great landscapes. For those of you who are much more frequently indoors, consider these tips to tap into nature, and the resulting kindness effects:

• Whether you bring your lunch, or order to go from your favorite restaurant, find a nearby park to sit and enjoy a little green scenery while you eat.
• Install a bird feeder just outside a window that you sit by frequently.
• Get a small desktop rock garden, or a Zen bamboo water fountain.
• Decorate your work and living spaces with pictures of the outdoors, whether they be snapshots from your last family vacation or the work your favorite photographer or artist.
• Last, but not least, make time to go for a walk every now and again.