Anyone who has watched a child run free in the woods or play in a stream doesn't need to read research that tells them that spending time in nature is good for children's health.
- This is something that most parents know intuitively. When children have the opportunity to play in nature, they are happier, better behaved and more socially connected, says Caroline Shuler, founder and CEO of Wildrock, a play and nature discovery center in Virginia.
Most adults know that nature is good for them too - that's why we often leave the stress of work on vacation to beautiful places in nature. But how much time in nature do we need to be healthier?
A group of subjects surveyed by British researchers tried to answer that question, how to create a national strategy related to physical activity and being in nature.
How much time do we need?
In the study, researchers surveyed more than 19.000 people in the UK about the recreational time they spent in nature during the week, along with self-reported health and well-being. They found that people who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature had stronger mental and physical health, compared to people who didn't go out.
However, it didn't matter how or where people accumulated the 120 minutes—many short walks near home were just as effective as a longer weekend trip to the park. Scientists point out that this is only the first step towards recommending that people spend a certain amount of time each week in nature. Other research, however, has shown that even short stays in nature can provide health benefits.
In one study, people who exercised for just five minutes in nature increased their self-esteem and mood.
Schuler saw such rapid transformations at Wildrock, even among adults with high-stress jobs.
"After an hour of being in nature, they are laughing, feeding and collecting things as if they were 5 years old," she says.
Recipes for staying in nature
Psychiatrist Jessica Muteni Small says that any guidelines on spending time in nature should emphasize minimum amounts of time spent in nature and make it clear that longer stays bring greater benefits.
But, she said, "people need to realize that they don't have to go on a weekend kayaking trip to get the health benefits."
Schuler agreed: “If you have access to a park with a few trees and you have 15 minutes - go! Because you will benefit!”
Dr. Patriša H Hešbach, a licensed psychotherapist and eco-therapist, said that her work with clients goes beyond just talking about how much time they spend in nature. , she said.
People who live in natural areas may already know that nature is good for them and this quickly leads to their healing. But some people may need more guidance.
"We have to suggest to people that it is better to be outside," she said. "But what I see is that for some people we have to give much more instructions on how to go, as much as how to behave in nature. Because, unfortunately, most people in big cities have forgotten about it". This may include suggesting that clients engage all of their senses while in nature, noticing things, colors, birds, the rustling of leaves or the smell of flowers.
Health benefits
Physical activity is one of the benefits most often thought of when talking about being outside. But research shows that even sitting in nature - as in Japanese "forest bathing" - can improve health.
Heschbach says that nature also provides a break from the large number of hours of "directed attention" that tire us mentally, which includes time spent at work, in front of a screen, driving.
"When people interrupt directed attention for even just brief intervals outdoors, they tend to enable more involuntary attention," she said. "This is very useful when people go back to work or need to have focused attention"
However, these benefits only appear if you put down your mobile phone and give nature your full attention, regardless of whether it is a beautiful view of a canyon, nature or a tree near your apartment or office.
Perhaps there is an even more ancient reason why nature heals
Being indoors most of the time or looking at a computer or cell phone are relatively new activities for humans, especially compared to our ancestors who spent time outside.
"We developed in nature," said Schuler. "It only makes sense that, given that, human beings have evolved - and that we are part of nature - that it would be better for us if we didn't move away from it."
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