Spending time outdoors, taking time out to surround yourself with greenery and living things, can be one of life’s great joys—and recent research suggests it’s also good for your brain and body.
Scientists have found that spending two hours a week in nature is linked to better health and well-being. It’s maybe not entirely surprising then that some patients are increasingly being prescribed time in nature and community gardening projects as part of “green prescriptions” by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS). In Shetland, for example, islanders with depression and anxiety may be given “nature prescriptions,” with doctors there recommending walks and activities that allow people to connect with the outdoors.