Spending time outdoors has been shown to have numerous mental and physical health benefits. Research has shown that spending as little as five minutes in nature can improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase feelings of happiness and well-being.
One reason for these benefits is that being outdoors can help to reduce feelings of stress and fatigue by providing a break from the demands of daily life. It can also help to improve focus and concentration, as the natural environment can provide a refreshing and stimulating change of scenery.
In addition, spending time outdoors can provide opportunities for physical activity, which has been linked to improved mental health. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of depression and anxiety and improve overall mental well-being.
So next time you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, try taking a five-minute walk outside or simply sit and enjoy the natural surroundings. You may find that this small investment of time can have a big impact on your mental health and well-being.
Long hours in front of the computer or cooped up indoors trying to study can definitely leave you feeling down. Some people think that physical exercises are overrated and there’s a greater need to boost the brain than the brawn, but the two might not have to be treated separately anymore. According to studies, just five minutes of physical outdoor exercises can actually make you mentally healthier. A lot of greens produce optimum results.
And we’re not talking about greens on your plate. Apparently, people who spend time walking along parks are least likely to suffer from mental illnesses. Gardening, farming, and cycling were also among the recommended outdoor activities. According to Jo Barton and Jules Pretty of the University of Essex, society would benefit a lot if only people can “self-medicate” with these “green exercises”.
This study was published in a journal called Environmental Science and Technology. Barton and Pretty worked on data collected from 1,252 people. The participants belonged to different age groups, genders, and mental health statuses. The data was actually taken from 10 studies that already existed in Britain.
According to their findings, all outdoor environments improved the mental health of the participants, including natural parks situated in cities and towns. The environment that produced the most positive results, though, is that with a lot of greenery and bodies of water.
Previously, these studies have already proven that regular outdoor exercises improve the physical and mental health of human beings. The color green has also been known to reduce stress levels in people.
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