There’s a range of scientific evidence and a lot of experiential evidence that getting outdoors on a daily basis is beneficial to young and old.
From the meadows to the mountaintops, from the devoted pet to the flight of the bumblebee–the ways that nature nurtures us bring tears to our eyes and resolve to our hearts. And we are often brought into the place of allowing the spirit to finally get through to us. The possibilities are endless–the motion of the tides, the cleansing of a rainstorm, the dormancy of winter–all remind us that a force greater than ourselves turns the clock of this universe. Nature immerses us in that power. -Linda Douty, How Can I Let Go If I Don’t Know I’m Holding On.
Articles
- How Nature Resets Our Minds and Bodies. Adam Alter. The Atlantic (2013). The research behind an understanding that natural environments refocus our attention, lessening stress and hastening healing.
- Children and nature: Who let the kids out? Connie Matthiessen. Great Schools (2018).
- Anxious, depressed, distracted — what if the cure is just outside? Interview with Florence Williams. Amelia Urry (2017). Grist.
- A prescription for better health: go alfresco. Harvard Health Letter (2016). Four benefits:
Your vitamin D levels will go up
You’ll get more exercise (especially if you’re a child)
You’ll be happier (especially if your exercise is ‘green’)
Your concentration will improve. - The Benefits of Exercising Outdoors. Gretchen Reynolds. New York Times Blog (2013).
Books
- The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. Florence Williams (2017)
- Go Wild: Eat Fat, Run Free, Be Social, and Follow Evolution’s Other Rules for Total Health and Well-being. John J. Ratey (2015).
- Your Brain On Nature: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive, While Protecting Your Brain Health for Life. Eva M. Selhub & Alan C. Logan (2013)