12 science-backed reasons you should spend more time outside
BergeIm Licht/Shutterstock
Many people spend their workdays indoors under fluorescent lights and in front of computers, then return home to bask in the glow of television screens.
But spending too much time inside isn't good for us. And nature is beneficial - maybe essential - for human health. Psychologists and health researchers are finding more and more science-backed reasons we should spend time outside.
In her recent book, "The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative," journalist Florence Williams writes that she started investigating the health benefits of nature after moving from the mountainous terrain of Boulder, Colorado, to what she describes as "the anti-Arcadia that is the nation's capital" - Washington, DC.
"I felt disoriented, overwhelmed, depressed," she writes. "My mind had trouble focusing. I couldn't finish thoughts. I couldn't make decisions and I wasn't keen to get out of bed."
We don't all need to live in a place as stunning as Boulder - and most of us can't get live anywhere too remote for smartphones or internet access.
But we do need to spend time in natural environments. That could be beautiful hiking trails or even just a nice park. Here's why it's so important to do so.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
- Vodafone Idea FPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP and more
- India leads in GenAI adoption, investment trends likely to rise in coming years: Report
- Reliance Jio emerges as World's largest mobile operator in data traffic, surpassing China mobile
- Satellite monitoring shows large expansion in 27% identified glacial lakes in Himalayas: ISRO
- Vodafone Idea shares jump nearly 8%
- Indians can now get multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity as EU eases norms