Spend Time in Nature

Quick Win

Take a half hour (or more!) and combine two good-for-you activities: relaxing and spending time in the great outdoors.

Try This Today

• Go for green. Find an area near your home with lots of trees — a park, an arboretum or nature center, or a hiking trail. Leave your phone in your car or purse to fully immerse yourself without distractions.
• Slow down. Take a slow stroll or sit, preferably under a canopy of trees.
• Use your senses. Let yourself absorb the nature around you. Breathe in the fresh air. Listen for birds and branches blowing in the wind. Take in the beauty of the space around you. Touch the bark of a nearby tree.

Why

Spending time in the great outdoors may be good for health and well-being — and you don’t have to go backpacking in the wilderness to get the benefits. In a study of nearly 20,000 U.K. adults published in Scientific Reports in 2019, those who spent at least two hours a week in nature — including parks and wooded areas — were more likely to report better health and well-being compared with those who didn’t spend any time in nature. In another study, 38 young adults reported the most positive mental health benefits after walking on a forest path, rather than on a busy road, after a day of normal daily activities. The research was reported in 2019 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.