9th January – Get outside in nature

🌱Spending time in nature has been shown to be an effective way to improve feelings of wellbeing. 

There is evidence that spending time in nature increases serotonin levels – which is commonly referred to as the “happy hormone”.

👩‍💻An article from 2019 suggested that if we spend more than 2hours a week out in nature, wellbeing scores are significantly improved. Interestingly, it doesn’t matter whether people get their 2hours a week all in one go, or in multiple smaller doses of being outside, the benefits are still just as good.

Logically, it is possible that the benefits might be even better if you can combine your healthy habits; time outside + physical activity + exposure to sunlight (especially in the morning) might be an efficient way to do multiple different things to help your wellbeing.

🚫During lockdown though, it might be a bit more difficult as we do have to follow the government advice and stay local, and limit our outside exercise to once a day.
🌱But nature doesn’t have to be going somewhere special or out to the wilderness, any local green space such as a park will do. Even looking at pictures of nature has been shown to be beneficial!!
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🙏Please follow the advice at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home/exercising
but make sure you do get out and use your exercise, it really does make a difference! I definitely felt better after a walk across the local fields with my kids today.

📚Ref: Capaldi et al. Flourishing in nature: A review of the benefits of connecting with nature and its application as a wellbeing intervention. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v5i4.449
📚White, M.P. et al. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3