Maybe you took to heart my recent post about the health dangers
of sitting too much. Now it’s time to think about getting
outside. A substantial body of research affirms the numerous
health benefits of spending time in natural settings: walking in
woods or urban parks, canoeing down a river, tending a vegetable
garden, meandering along a coastline or a lake shore.
Researchers have found that spending time in nature strengthens
a person's immune system, reduces stress hormones, lowers blood
pressure, and improves social interactions. Furthermore, it may
improve learning and increase empathy. Even a dose of five
minutes improves our sense of wellbeing. What’s more, creating
green spaces such as parks and community gardens in urban
residential environments reduces crime (especially gun
violence), decreases domestic violence, stimulates positive
social interactions, strengthens family connections. Even
hospital patients exposed to green spaces through their windows
(rather than parking lots) have better clinical