You can feel the crunch of rock and dirt beneath your feet. The subtle whoosh of wind through trees as the sun bounces between nebulous clouds. You close your eyes and listen.

There’s something about the outdoors that seems to bring peace. And simply being out there is so good for you. Bratman et al., (2015) found that an experience outdoors in a natural environment compared to an urban environment had a greater impact on decreasing anxiety and increasing verbal cognitive memory. Another study indicates that time spent outside increases a child’s attention span and decreases stress, which, in lieu of COVID-19 and the shift to virtual learning, is very much needed (McCurdy et al., 2010). The spectrum of benefits is not restricted to the young alone, as research also shows that spending time in a garden slows cognitive decline and reduces falls in elderly patients with dementia (Whear et al., 2014).

So, I know you want to plop down on that comfy couch and throw on the Mandalorian, The Whitcher, The Last of Us, Stranger Things, Ted Lasso, Love is Blind, Arnol…. I could go on, but try going for a walk in the park instead. Your body and mind will give you a standing ovation in the long run.

(Can you guess where the photo was taken?)

1. Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41-50.

2. McCurdy, L. E., Winterbottom, K. E., Mehta, S. S., & Roberts, J. R. (2010). Using nature and outdoor activity to improve children’s health. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care, 40(5), 102-117.

3. Whear, R., Coon, J. T., Bethel, A., Abbott, R., Stein, K., & Garside, R. (2014). What is the impact of using outdoor spaces such as gardens on the physical and mental well-being of those with dementia? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 15(10), 697-705.