Spending Time in Nature Is Good for You
By Kate Gardner
Right now, I'm sitting at a desk in front of a computer, inside. Chances are, you're inside too. In 2001, Nature.com reported that Americans spend about 87 percent of their time inside buildings and another 6 percent in cars. That means that 93 percent of the time, or about 22.5 hours per day, we are more or less indoors. It's likely that many of us spend the remaining 90 minutes each day walking to and from our cars, and not actively enjoying the outside.
Why It Matters
You may be wondering why, or even if, it matters how much time you spend outdoors enjoying nature. But plenty of research has shown a connection between getting outside and our health and well-being. A study recently published in the journal Scientific Reports was able to pin down just how much time we should aim to spend outside and how it can help us. The study interviewed 19,806 people, asking questions about how often they spent time in nature and their physical and mental health.
The Results
According to the study, 120 minutes, or two hours, per week is the lower limit to how much time we should spend outside. People who spent at least two hours each week in nature reported better health and well-being. Those who reported spending some, but less, time in nature didn't seem to see the same benefits. It didn't matter if people got all their two hours in one go or if they broke it up in segments throughout the week.
The Limits
This study shows that getting outside may be related to better health, but it doesn't show that it causes better health. The researchers point out that healthier, happier people may be more likely to enjoy nature, or enjoying nature might make people healthier and happier. As well, things may look different for different people. Enjoying nature when you have a long-term illness or disability may affect you differently than those who don't. More research is needed to explore the relationship between the two.
We often think of our health in terms of diet and exercise, but this study shows that there are other factors that we should consider too. Getting outside into nature is generally enjoyable and may be an easy way to boost your health and well-being.
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