Attention exhausted? What Nature teaches us according to Kaplan’s theory

Why even the most brilliant managers experience mental fatigue—and how to overcome it with the help of nature

Have you ever found yourself feeling mentally drained in the middle of a busy day, even though you are not doing anything physically demanding?

• You forget trivial things.
• You reread an email three times before sending it.
• You get stuck on simple choices.
• You get irritated by irrelevant details.

It’s a clear sign: your direct attention is exhausted. And when the mind becomes overloaded, its cognitive performance begins to decline.

🧠 The theory of attention regeneration

In the 1990s, environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan formulated a theory that was as simple as it was revolutionary:

Our attention needs to regenerate. And nature is one of the most effective tools for doing so.

According to the Kaplans, our minds use two types of attention:

Direct attention—the kind you use to concentrate, make decisions, manage meetings, and plan.

👉 It is limited and quickly exhausted, especially in crowded, noisy environments or those full of artificial stimuli.

Involuntary attention – the kind that is naturally activated in the presence of pleasant, gentle, non-threatening stimuli.

👉 It is the kind of attention you use when you watch a fire, listen to the wind in the trees, or observe the waves of the sea.

When the mind is exhausted, involuntary attention (typical of the experience in nature) allows the rational and directive part to rest and regenerate.

🌿 Nature and mind: a virtuous circle

This is why, according to Kaplan’s theory, natural environments help the mind to recharge.

Natural landscapes offer four fundamental elements for cognitive regeneration:

• Being away: feeling detached from the daily mental load.
• Soft fascination: nature captures attention without forcing it.
• Extension: natural space seems to ‘continue beyond’, giving breathing space and perspective.
• Compatibility: nature “works” with our way of being, requiring no effort.

👔 Managers and attention: a resource to be protected

Managers are among those most affected by attention overload.

Every day, they have to make decisions, manage relationships, coordinate processes, and often even “keep up the mood” of the team.

But effective leadership requires clarity, vision, and discernment—qualities that burn out quickly without regeneration.

Here are three practical tips inspired by Kaplan’s theory:

1. Take a visual (and mental) break every 90 minutes

Look outside, walk for five minutes, observe a tree.

👉 Give your direct attention space to recover.

2. Avoid continuous multitasking

Choose 2 blocks of time during the day to focus on one thing.

👉 This protects your cognitive resources and lowers stress.

3. Bring nature into your workspace

Even small plants, images of landscapes, or natural sounds help create regenerative micro-breaks.

👉 It’s “urban nature,” but your brain recognizes it anyway.

✨ True clarity comes from recovery, not resistance

Being present, centered, and clear-headed does not mean pushing yourself beyond your limits, but knowing when and how to regenerate.

According to science, nature is one of the most powerful—and most accessible—allies.

🎯 Would you like to try these tools in your leadership?

Through the NaturalLeadership and TeamBloom programs, I help managers and their teams regain energy, focus, and clarity by integrating nature and applied neuroscience.

📘 Start here:

👉 Download the free eBook “5 Rituals for Stressed Managers”

📩 Or write to me for an introductory call:

👉 mauro.nature.coach@gmail.com