Far too much of the workforce spends an inordinate amount of time inside working in front of computers, on social media devices or in stuffy meeting rooms. While this is often necessary, scientists insist that getting outdoors is your ticket to reduce stress and revitalize your health. Spending deliberate time in a natural setting or “nature bathing” during your workday gives you more clarity and energy to take back to your workstation.
Scientific Research
A growing body of research indicates that spending more time in natural green spaces such as parks, woodlands, mountains and beaches has healing properties and underscores the importance of nature on your mental and physical health and well-being. Previous studies showed that living in greener urban areas is linked to lower incidences of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma, mental distress and mortality rates. The decades-old Japanese practice of forest bathing or shinrin-yoku (which means “taking in the forest”) is believed to provide stress reduction, relaxation and deeper insights into life. This back-to-nature movement is catching on in the U.S. where certified guides take groups into green spaces that amplify the scents of soil or flowers, the sounds of birds, insects and rustling leaves, or colors and textures of grasses and plants. Scientists have discovered that forest bathing lowers cortisol and depression in adults and boosts the activity of killer cells that fight off infection and cancer.
A groundbreaking study last month in Scientific Reports found that spending a minimum of two hours a week in nature (such as parks, woodlands or beaches) promotes physical and mental health and well-being and gives you a bigger perspective of your life circumstances. In the study, those who spent 120 minutes per week had better health and higher psychological well-being than the ones who didn’t spend any weekly time in nature or those who spent less than 120 minutes per week. The lead author, Dr. Mathew White, said it doesn’t matter how the 120 minutes are achieved. It can be done in one block or spread out over the entire week to get the benefit. It doesn’t seem to matter what activity you’re involved in, either, as long as you’re outdoors: sailing, biking, kayaking, walking or tennis.
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