10 minutes.
3,870 studies.
More than 10 million people.
A massive new review found that spending time in nature was associated with meaningful reductions in anxiety, depression and stress—and some benefits may begin with as little as 10 minutes outside.
Nature-based interventions produced a moderate-to-large reduction in anxiety: standardized effect size −0.83.
Depressive symptoms improved with an effect size of −0.72.
Negative mood/affect improved by −0.61.
Even heart rate decreased, with an effect size of −0.70.
Measures of relaxation showed the largest effect, with an effect size of 2.85—although that particular estimate should be interpreted cautiously because the underlying studies varied quite a bit.
Luckily, here in Asheville there are millions of ways to get outside.