Evidence Based Studies Show That Exposure to Nature Positively Affects Wellbeing
There are thousands of scientific studies documenting the therapeutic benefits of connection and exposure to nature. For example, a 2022 study in Scientific Total Environment showed that increased exposure to nature during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with less depression, anxiety, stress, and more happiness and life satisfaction. Additionally, nature exposure was correlated with less physical inactivity and fewer sleep disturbances.
A simple lifestyle practice to increase wellbeing is to spend time in nature. Before your day starts, could you go outside and have a coffee while enjoying the canopy of trees and listen to the birdsong? Or, at the end of a workday, could you make time to go for a walk in a park and be mindful of the trees, animals and beauty of your environment? Most importantly, let’s follow the advice of esteemed biologist and naturalist Sr. David Attenborough and help our children experience nature for their wellbeing and the future of our beautiful planet.
Study Citation: S.M. Labib, Matthew H.E.M. Browning, Alessandro Rigolon, Marco Helbich, Peter James, Nature’s contributions in coping with a pandemic in the 21st century: A narrative review of evidence during COVID-19, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 833, 2022,155095, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155095