When confronted with a stressful situation, what is your coping mechanism? Do you take a few deep breaths before tackling the problem? Scientists say maybe you should try going outside for a walk to relieve stress in your daily life.
“More than 100 studies now confirm that stress reduction and mental restoration are significant benefits associated with living near green areas, having a view of vegetation, and spending time in natural settings,” according to our Stress Response Report. “Even watching images on a computer or television monitor has been found to be restorative.” The findings from these studies have been brought together in our report to describe just how nature proves to benefit our mental health.
Measures of stress include quantitative data such as blood pressure, heart rate, and conditions of the central nervous system. Other studies on stress use self-reported health indicators, such as number of headaches, work absenteeism, or anxiety symptoms in a certain time period.
Another key finding is that the benefits of nature on reducing stress stretch beyond the health of the individual. A neighborhood that incorporates accessible green spaces may also improve social cohesion and interaction. This works for both the mental health of the individual and the community.
>>For more detailed findings check out the report here.
