You belong in nature: the health and wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors

Physical activity and contact with nature can positively impact an individual’s health and quality of life. Research has shown that people who spend at least two hours in nature each week report significantly better well-being.¹ A 2018 Ipsos survey found that nine in ten Canadians say they feel happier when they spend time in nature.

There’s no shortage of benefits to spending time in the great outdoors:

Reduce your risk of chronic disease. Spending more time in green spaces can lower your risk of asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.²

Subdue your stress. Simply sitting in a forest for 20–30 minutes significantly reduces cortisol levels and heart rate variability.

Recharge your mental health. Spending time in nature can make you feel more relaxed and focused by offering a needed reprieve from the overstimulation that can result from extensive screen time. Nature can offer a refuge from draining your mental energy by providing the alternative of calming attractions, soothing noises (think birds chirping and the Credit River flowing) and energizing your senses through the scents of the woods.

Getting active in nature supports community health. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Find activities you enjoy doing. Explore our trails to find routes you want to revisit, or join one of our Discovery programs that provide guided instruction in activities like qi gong, forest bathing, and outdoor yoga. If you enjoy doing something, you’re more likely to do it again.

Add the outdoors to your schedule. Consider walking or cycling to work. On weekends, instead of driving to meet your friends for coffee, meet them at a trail with your coffees in hand. Stay connected to your family by visiting parks and trails together. Getting others involved also increases your chance of reaching your outdoor-time goals.

Respect your surroundings. Dress for the weather and terrain, stay on marked trails or within designated walking areas, be courteous to other park visitors, and help keep nature litter-free by packing out what you pack in.

Feel the positive effects of spending time in nature and register for one of our Discovery programs today. Our thanks to the Novo Nordisk Diabetes & Obesity Fund at the Community Foundation of Mississauga for supporting our programs and the creation of this post.

Sources

1. White, M.P. et.al; SCI Rep 9, 7730 (2019)
2. Twohig-Bennett, C., Jones A. Enviro Res 166, 628 (2018)