Mental Health and the Outdoors
By
As the digital and convenience age rolls on, physical and mental wellness doesn’t come naturally. Increasingly, a healthy lifestyle requires effort and conscious decision making within the general flow of life.
Mental health is of course an extremely diverse and complex topic that often requires specialist intervention. However, there is a lot of research promoting specific practical steps that can be beneficial. Reconnecting with the outdoors is one such pursuit, and as society increasingly recognises the profound impact of nature on mental health, a collective effort to integrate the outdoors into our lives will go a long way towards nurturing a more balanced and resilient society.
In a study of 20 000 people, a team led by Mathew White of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter found that people who spent two hours a week in green spaces - local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits - were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don’t. Two hours was a hard boundary: the study, published in 2019, showed that there were no benefits for people who didn’t meet that threshold.
Engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, or simply taking a walk does not only promote physical well-being, but is also known to release neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are crucial for mood regulation.
So why not just walk on a treadmill? Here are a few of the many benefits of exercising and spending time in the great outdoors…
Stress Reduction
The calming effect of nature has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels. Exposure to green spaces and natural environments can lower cortisol – ‘the stress hormone’ - and promote a sense of calmness.
Mood Enhancement
Spending time outdoors is linked to improved mood and a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression. The fresh air, sunlight, and the beauty of natural landscapes contribute to the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters.
