Get Happier and Healthier in Green Spaces
“Spending time in green spaces is a real health booster and supports healing.”
Research has found evidence for a link between exposure to green spaces and physical and mental health. Regularly spending time in green environments is a great, simple habit that supports health and well-being.
Green areas boost brain development
The positive side effects of an outdoor life begin already in childhood. Did you know, for example, that green spaces can boost brain development in children and cause lifelong positive changes in the brain? In one study from 2018, researchers in Barcelona scanned children’s brains and found that long-term exposure to green spaces had a positive impact on brain structure and areas involved in memory and attentiveness.
One of the best investments in physical and mental well-being
Green spaces such as parks and woodlands have proven to affect physical and mental well-being positively, in many different ways. The wonderful green colours, plenty of fresh air and the calm environment all impact our brain in a way that promotes happiness and health, compared to busy city life. Feelings of peace and serenity, physical activity, less pollution and simply enjoying the beauty of the environment may all affect us positively. They can contribute for example to better focus, reduced symptoms in children with ADHD, reduced anxiety, lower risk of depression, and improved sleep. But the list of positive effects on physical health is also long, including impacts on blood pressure and the immune system, reduced pain sensations and lower levels of stress hormones.
“If you don’t have time to get out in nature, a great way to support mental health and give your brain a break from all the input is to take a short walk in a park.”
As little as 15 minutes in a park can reduce stress hormones
As research increasingly focuses on the link between green spaces and health effects, the more clear it becomes that even a short time spent in green spaces can reduce stress hormones and decrease the level of stress brought on by city life. Scientists at the Finnish Forest Research Institute have found that just 15 minutes after sitting on a bench in a park or forest, people began to feel less stressed and more mentally restored.
My advice:
Try to establish a routine that makes it possible to regularly take a walk or do some other activity such as gardening, reading a book or having lunch in a green space. And remember that not only nature, but also parks and gardens offer health benefits and support well-being.
