What is the best nature and green exercise for improving mental health?
Green exercise for improving mental health and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best exercise for improving mental health depends on the person’s individual needs and preferences. However, some exercises that are known to be beneficial for mental health include hiking, biking, swimming, and yoga.
Scientists have studied whether exposure to a natural environment while exercising leads to greater mental health benefits than activity done elsewhere.
To investigate the potentially synergistic benefits of combining a natural setting with physical exercise, Pretty, Peacock, Sellens and Griffin (2005) compared the effects on study subjects of viewing photographs of nature settings or urban scenes projected onto a wall while running on a treadmill.
Compared the restorative benefits of walking in rural and urban settings for adults with either good or poor mental health and found that restorative benefits, based on cognitive and affective measures, were generally greater for both groups in the rural setting.
In a systematic review of 11 studies comparing the effects of activity (walking or running) in an outdoor natural versus indoor environment, Thompson Coon, Boddy, Stein, et al. (2011) found that many of the self-report findings suggested greater improvements to mental well-being (moods feelings) from outdoor than indoor activity.
Analyzing existing population data ( n = 1 890 persons aged 16 and older) from a 2008 Scottish Health Survey Mitchell (2012) examined frequency of use of natural settings for unspecified physical activity in relation to outcomes on two measures, one of mental health and one of well-being.
Regular physical activity in natural settings does offer more protection against poor mental health than activity in other settings- but the association was not as clear with mental well-being.
Large benefits could be achieved with very little time investment when walking outdoors. Positive effects were observed for women with postpartum depression and older women who were overweight, depressed, or both.
Nature walks are the best way to increase your overall well-being
Nature and green exercise has been shown to improve mental health in a variety of ways, including reducing stress and anxiety. Studies have found that time spent in nature or enjoying pockets of green in urban settings is good for our mental health. The subgenual prefrontal cortex is active during rumination – repetitive thought focused on negative emotions – which decreases among participants who walk in nature versus those who walk in an urban environment.
Contact with nature has a positive effect on mental health
Residential green space has been associated with mental health benefits, but how such associations vary with green space types is insufficiently known. We aimed to investigate associations between types and quantities of green space and sales of mood disorder medication in Belgium.
Urban census tracts were associated with 9–10% higher medication sales. Living in green environments may be beneficial for adult mental health. The amount of green space was more important than the type studied.
Woodland exposure seemed the most beneficial, but the amount of green space was more important than the type studied.
Green exercise has many benefits for mental health
Numerous studies have found that exposure to natural environments while exercising leads to greater mental health benefits than activity done elsewhere. This positive psychological state is generally more pronounced in those with poorer mental health. Existing population data suggests that the use of natural settings for physical activity is associated with better outcomes on measures of mental health and well-being.
Regular physical activity in nature offers more protection against poor mental health than activity in other settings. Large benefits can be achieved with very little time investment.
The greatest self-esteem improvements occurred in the young and those with mental illness, while men showed greater mood improvement than women.
Exposure to nature can help improve mood and cognitive function
There is evidence that viewing nature can improve mental health.
Viewing nature has restorative impacts on the body and mind.
Viewing natural scenes can help reduce stress and promote healing.
How do nature and green exercise improve mental health?
There is a growing body of research that suggests that spending time in nature and getting regular exercise can improve mental health. Exposure to nature can help to reduce stress levels, improve moods, and increase cognitive function, while exercise can help to improve moods, reduce stress levels, and promote overall mental health.
Scientists have studied whether exposure to a natural environment while exercising leads to greater mental health benefits than activity done elsewhere. The findings of these studies suggest that nature and green exercise can improve mental health more than indoor activity. In a systematic review of 11 studies, outdoor activity was found to be more beneficial for mental health than indoor activity.
The association between nature and green exercise and mental well-being was not as clear with one measure of mental health (self-esteem). Large benefits can be achieved with very little time investment by implementing a walking intervention outdoors.
Spending time in nature can improve mental health
Nature and green exercise have been shown to improve mental health in adolescents. Exposure to nature or living in a green neighborhood has multiple benefits, including reducing stress levels and improving mental clarity.
Green exercise can improve mental health
Scientists have studied whether exposure to a natural environment while exercising leads to greater mental health benefits than activity done elsewhere. Results from studies suggest that, for some people, outdoor exercise is more beneficial than indoor activity. Population data from Scotland has shown that people who frequently use natural settings for physical activity are less likely to experience negative mental health outcomes.
Regular physical activity in natural settings offers more protection against poor mental health than activity in other settings. The association between nature and green exercise and mental well-being was not as clear as with physical health.
The study found that people who regularly exercise in natural environments have lower levels of depression and higher self-esteem than those who do not. One reason for this could be the effect that nature has on the body’s production of nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax and regulates blood pressure.
The study also found that people who exercise in natural environments are more likely to have better social relationships than those who do not.
Large benefits could be achieved with very little time investment when measuring the impact of nature on self-esteem and mood
Nature and green exercise have different benefits for mental health
Scientists have studied whether exposure to a natural environment while exercising leads to greater mental health benefits than activity done elsewhere. In the end, the pleasant images of both rural and urban settings had positive impacts on self-esteem beyond the effects of exercise alone, indicating a synergistic effect.
The greatest benefits occurred in those with mental illness and young people. Additional research is needed to fully understand the impacts of nature on mental health.
Contact with nature is essential for good mental health
Living in nature or engaging in green exercise has been linked to improved mental health. Urban areas were not found to be as beneficial as rural areas for mental health. The amount of green space mattered more than the type of green space when it came to improving mental health. Nature and green exercise have been shown to improve mental health by reducing stress levels
Studies have found that people who spend more time outdoors and in nature report lower levels of stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue than those who do not spend as much time outdoors. Researchers have also found that people who engage in regular green exercise, such as gardening and walking, report lower levels of stress than those who do not regularly engage in such activities.
In addition to helping improve mental health, nature and green exercise have been shown to help reduce fatigue, depression and anxiety in cancer patients. Recent research has also found that people who spend more time outdoors are less likely to develop dementia. Green exercise is also known to help improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress and boost energy levels by increasing blood flow and oxygen in the body.
Research has also found that people who live in urban areas with large parks and green spaces tend to have lower levels of anxiety than those living in cities without as much greenery. The benefits are greatest for people who live in an urban environment where there is little access to natural environments
People with a higher level of education or income tend to benefit the most from nature and green exercise
The benefits of nature and green exercise on mental health
Scientists have studied the benefits of nature and green exercise on mental health. Studies have found that restorative benefits are generally greater in rural settings than in urban settings. In a systematic review of 11 studies, outdoor activity was more effective than indoor activity in improving mental well-being among people. The Mitchell study found that regular physical activity in natural settings did offer more benefits against poor mental health than activity in other settings.
The greatest self-esteem improvements occurred in the young and those with mental illness. Outdoor walking interventions showed positive effects for women with postpartum depression.
Viewing Nature Has Positive Effects
Viewing nature has positive effects on health, particularly in terms of recovering from stress. Viewing nature can help improve concentration and productivity and improve the psychological state of people in confined circumstances.
Healing Applications
Green exercise, when conducted as a therapeutic intervention for depression or anxiety, is but one component of a growing field termed green care.
Recent work on the benefits of gardens and of particular garden designs for people with Alzheimer disease and dementia is showing great promise: Findings suggest a decrease in negative behaviours.
The concept of ecotherapy is in itself an exciting development, as it represents a commitment to the health of the population and the environment, and has the potential to unite the environmental movement with health and health promotion interests.
Ecotherapy is a holistic approach to health that uses natural settings to improve physical and psychological well-being.
The growing evidence base supporting the value of natural settings for well-being is likely to prompt greater ecological awareness and environmental care.