Why is spending time in nature important?

Spending time in nature supports mental and physical well-being by easing stress, engaging the senses, encouraging movement, and giving attention a restorative break.

• Nature’s health effects: Spending 10–30 minutes outdoors several days a week has been associated with lower blood pressure and resting heart rate, along with better sleep and mood. Nature walks can also help people feel better and restore attention when mentally fatigued. 1 2
• Outdoor activity: Hiking, walking, or jogging outdoors can combine time in nature with cardio and other physical benefits. 3
• Sensory engagement: Sunlight, colors, wildlife, sounds, scents, and other features of a natural setting gently capture attention and can make the experience enjoyable and restorative. 4 5
• Awe and perspective: Natural scenery and its cycles can evoke awe and a sense of connection to something larger, which may feel soothing and help put worries in perspective. 6 7
• Moving water: Being near moving water may have health benefits, possibly related to negative ionization, but the evidence is still tentative. 8