Are outdoors a stress management tool?

Spending time outdoors is indeed a powerful tool for stress management and overall well-being. Engaging with natural environments, such as forests, parks, or bodies of water, can provide significant mental and physical health benefits. Andrew Huberman highlights that spending 10 to 30 minutes in nature, three to seven days per week, can lead to improvements in mood, sleep, and physical health, including reductions in blood pressure and heart rate 1.

The benefits of being in nature are attributed to the combination of various elements, such as soothing sounds, visual aesthetics, and the experience of surprise, which contribute to an overall sense of calm and wonder. These interactions with nature can create lasting positive effects on one's mental state and resilience in handling stress 2 3.