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Let Nature Help You Unwind

Get outside to combat stress — and bring a friend!

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 20, 2023

Updated April 20, 2023

A woman looking up to take in the scenery in a forest

JohnnyGreig/Getty Images

Quick Win

Spend 20 minutes in your local park or green space. Taking a nature break may elevate your mood and reduce stress.

Try This Today

Get outdoors. Head to a neighborhood park, a nearby nature center or a walking path. If you can bring a friend, even better!
Take in the sights. Appreciate the colors, textures and diversity of the trees, plants and animals around you.
Smell the smells. Breathe in the fresh air. Notice the scent of mulch on the ground. Take in the perfume of the flowers.

Why

Spending time outdoors is a great way to elevate your mood and may help reduce anxiety, according to a review of 50 studies in SSM-Population Health. A group of 155 people ages 19 to 59 spent two hours experiencing the sights, smells and sounds of the outdoors — known as “forest bathing.” Both those with and those without depressive tendencies showed decreases in blood pressure as well as anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion, as reported in 2019 in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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