Your Brain on Nature

Healthy Parks, Healthy People

Did you know that spending time in nature can make you feel better in lots of different ways? Check out these cool benefits:

Happier

Want to feel better quickly? Just five minutes walking outside can improve your mood and make you feel more confident! People who go outside often feel less worried and sad. Moving around in nature can also help you feel less stressed - it actually reduces stress! Physical activity outside can lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels by 15%.

Smarter

Going outside for just 20 minutes can help you focus better! Kids who spend time in nature often don't need as much medicine for ADHD and ADD. Plus, taking walks outside helps your memory work better - which means you might do better on your next test!
Moving around in green spaces helps your brain work better! Short and long-term memory and overall brain function improve with time outside. Children who walk 20 minutes in a park concentrate in school longer and have better participation.

Even just having a view of trees and plants through a window can help you concentrate better! Other benefits include improved well-being and life satisfaction. Living within 1/2 mile of a green space decreases mental distress and anxiety while boosting heart and metabolic health.

Stronger

Exercising outside is better for you than doing the same exercise inside! People who exercise in a natural environment usually want to do it more often compared to those who exercise inside. And people who live near parks and nature, are more likely to have stronger ties with their community members.

Healthier

Just 30 minutes to a park can make your whole body healthier! It improves circulation and lowers cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Walking in nature helps your body fight off sickness better too by reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system. Listening to birdsongs and observing animals in nature has been shown to promote well-being, reduce stress, improve mood, and reduce attention fatigue. Natural aromas from wood and plants have calming effects and viewing nature reduces mental fatigue.