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Immerse Yourself in Nature

Make your next outdoor walk more meaningful by observing and identifying what you see

By

Staying Sharp

Updated June 13, 2024

Updated June 13, 2024

A man using binoculars on a hike with other people

Pamela Moore/Getty Images

Quick Win

Hone your naturalist skills to engage your senses and connect more deeply with the world around you.

Try This Today

As you walk or hike, pay attention to the creatures and plants around you. Can you identify at least five species on your trip?
Bring a regional field guide to help you identify the birds, trees and other living things you encounter. Or travel light and use a phone app instead. Merlin can help you identify birds by sight or sound; iNaturalist identifies plants and lets you share your findings with other observers, and iTrack Wildlife can help you figure out which animal's prints you're seeing.
Carry binoculars so you can see specimens that are farther away, such as an owl perched high on a tree limb.

Why

Engaging with nature is associated with a variety of physical and mental health benefits, including improved mood and cognitive function, according to an analysis of 39 studies published in 2022 in the Journal of Global Health. Observing and identifying species also requires you to focus and engage your senses. Watching birds for 30 minutes was associated with improved well-being and less anxiety in a study of 156 adults ages 18 to 80 published in 2023 in Urban Ecosystems.

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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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