"In 2019, a social psychologist, Mathew White of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter, studied the effects of spending weekly time in green spaces - local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits. Of 20,000 people studied, those who go outside for at least two hours a week are substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don't, regardless of their demographics."
"Day or night, dark or light, Scandinavian families get outside every day, in a practice called friluftsliv, translated as "open air life." The Norwegians have a saying, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes." In 2019, a social psychologist, Mathew White of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter, studied the effects of spending weekly time in green spaces - local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits."
Regular exposure to natural environments produces measurable physical and psychological benefits. Scandinavian practices such as friluftsliv normalize daily outdoor activity regardless of weather, supporting consistent nature contact. A 2019 study of 20,000 people found that at least two hours per week outdoors corresponds with substantially higher reports of good health and psychological well‑being, while those below that threshold showed no benefit. A meta‑analysis of 49 studies found medium‑to‑large effects for increased positive emotions and decreased negative feelings from nature exposure. Physical and emotional warmth promotes parasympathetic activation, enabling rest and relaxation.
Read at Psychology Today
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