Science did a study to define a “dose” of time in nature that could be “prescribed” to college students to manage the commonly experienced high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. They asked “what’s the minimum amount of time in nature that would result in a positive impact on mental health and well-being?”. And how should this time outdoors be spent? Sitting, walking, running?
Results showed that just 10-20 minutes sitting or walking outdoors decreased both biological and self-perceived stress indicators. Both passive and active engagement with nature had positive impacts, including less anger and feelings of anxiety, increased vigor, comfort, and a sense of feeling refreshed.
Counseling, medications and, in more severe cases, hospitalization are all appropriate treatments for people living with mental health conditions. But it is cool to know that an increasing body of evidence shows that spending time in nature can provide real benefits for mental health and well-being.
Getting outside can be an easy and cost-effective tool that we can all use to handle our feelings of stress. Keep it in your back pocket - consider self-prescribing a dose of outdoor time each day to decrease some anxiety and prevent those feelings of overwhelm!
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Science, Feminism and Love.
Meredith, Genevive R, Donald A Rakow, Erin R B Eldermire, Cecelia G Madsen, Steven P Shelley, and Naomi A Sachs. Minimum Time Dose in Nature to Positively Impact the Mental Health of College-Aged Students, and How to Measure It: A Scoping Review. Frontiers in Psychology. 10 (2019): 2942. Web.
