The power of nature walks: How just 20 minutes outdoors can boost mental well-being
Walking in general is known to have proven benefits for the human body and its health. However, did you know walking in nature- parks and gardens, is known to boost your physical as well as mental health? Yes, walks surrounded by the beauty of nature lift the mood, reduce anxiety and depression and improve mental clarity.
Benefits of
nature walks
Image credits: Getty Images
According to a 2019
study
published in the Frontiers in Psychology, spending just 20 minutes connecting with nature can help lower stress hormone levels. The levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, were measured from saliva samples taken before and after nature outings. The results revealed the biggest drop in cortisol levels.
According to the Attention Restoration Theory, nature's "soft fascinations" such as flowing water and rustling leaves aid in replenishing focused attention.
Various lab-based studies have found that people have better attention and perform better at memory tasks after viewing natural scenery.
Walking in nature does incredible work for a person's mental health. It calms a person and reduces the feelings of anxiety and depression. A
study
in Denmark examined 900,000 residents born between 1985 and 2003 to find that children who live in more green spaces have lower risks of mental disorders in later life.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
A Apple Recomenda o Blinkist, O Melhor App Para Intelectuais Ao Redor do Mundo
Blinkist
Undo
Walking in nature is effective in improving one's physical health as well. Along with reducing cortisol levels, nature walks Just a 15-minute walk in nature improves cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and resting heart rate. Additionally, a study found that spending time in nature increases endurance performance as well.
Why should you have 20-minute nature walks?
Image credits: Getty Images
Along with the Harvard Health
study
that specifically states that 20-minute walks in nature reduced cortisol levels to shocking lows, there are other studies that suggest 20-minute walks in greenery are all you need.
As per a
study
published in ScienceDirect.com, spending even 15 minutes walking in nature is known to make workouts more enjoyable and lower the effort in them.
Another study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research added that spending 20 minutes is enough to improve well-being. Well-being scores rose during the park visit in 60% of people with an average increase of about 1.5 points.
With all the benefits in such a short time, 20-minute nature walks can be an easy addition to the routine of every person no matter what age and lifestyle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Technical staff gives wrong treatment to doctor on train
Patna: A senior govt doctor was allegedly administered the wrong treatment by a technical staff member, not a qualified physician, during her journey on the New Delhi-Patna Tejas Rajdhani Express, raising fresh concerns over the quality and oversight of medical assistance provided to passengers on trains. Dr Divya, head of the eye department at Bulandshahr District Hospital in Uttar Pradesh, was travelling to Patna on Saturday. Midway through the journey, she began experiencing gastric discomfort and dialled the railway helpline 139, requesting urgent medical assistance. According to Dr Divya, she received a call back from an official of the Prayagraj division under North Central Railway (NCR), who informed her that a fee would apply if she wanted medical attention. However, at Kanpur Central station that night, she was shocked when a technical staff member, not a qualified doctor, arrived to attend to her. "He administered an antibiotic, despite my symptoms being clearly related to gastric discomfort. When I identified myself as a senior medical professional and questioned the treatment, he remained silent but still insisted I pay Rs 350 for the visit and an additional Rs 32 for the medicines." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo She added that while no receipt was given for the consultation fee, she was sent a medicine bill via an instant messaging platform. "Even after repeated persuasion, I was not given a bill for the so-called doctor's visit," she said. Responding to the allegation, NCR's chief public relations officer Shashi Kant Tripathi said on Sunday, "The Railway Board has fixed Rs 100 as a nominal fee in some cases for a doctor's visit to attend to a patient on board. There is no such fee like Rs 350 for a doctor's visit. The railways will inquire into the matter." Dr Divya has lodged an online complaint with the Railway Board and NCR authorities. "I have demanded fair treatment for patients on trains and a complete check on this kind of extortion in the name of medical aid," she said.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Palwal CMO seeks s 15L bribe to let hospital operate, caught in sting op
Gurgaon: The state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau arrested Palwal's chief medical officer (CMO) after he was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh at his official residence in a sting operation organised on Thursday night. Officials said Palwal resident Manohar, one of the three partners of Sunrise Trauma Hospital in the south Haryana district, complained to the state vigilance bureau last week that CMO Dr Jai Bhagwan was demanding a bribe of Rs 15 lakh to let the facility operate. Manohar alleged that the CMO threatened to shut down the facility by claiming that there were deficiencies in its functioning. The hospital, according to Manohar, was opened three months ago by him and two others – Dheeraj and Subhash. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Manohar said he had already paid Rs 6 lakh to the CMO at his official residence in Palwal last month. A second tranche of Rs 1 lakh was given on July 2. The CMO was allegedly pressuring the hospital owner to pay the remaining bribe by saying he had to pay the share of other senior officers too. Manohar said he had limited resources and decided to approach the vigilance department and use Rs 1 lakh as bait for the sting operation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beachfront Living in Mumbai at Sunteck Beach Residences Sunteck Realty Learn More Undo On Thursday night, an SVACB team from Gurgaon laid a trap as Manohar, equipped with covert recording devices and body-worn cameras, went to the CMO's house. Dr Bhagwan was arrested as soon as he took the cash. SVACB also carried out a search at the house and found cash worth Rs 3 lakh in a cupboard there. "A case has been registered against the accused under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 308(2) (extortion) of BNS. Further investigation is underway," a member of the SVACB said on Friday. Sources told TOI that the CMO may have sought bribes related to administrative permissions or contractual clearances under the health department. Investigators are looking into the possibility of the involvement of other officials in the district health department. Dr Bhagwan has been suspended in the past after being accused of serious allegations. In 2020, while he was the Jind CMO, Dr Bhagwan was suspended after a departmental probe found irregularities in the recruitment of ayurvedic medical officers. He was accused of manipulating vacancy declarations and bypassing merit-based selections. The same year, while serving as the civil surgeon in Kaithal, he led a raid on a diagnostics centre suspected of conducting illegal prenatal sex determination tests. But the officer was suspended soon after, following a complaint filed by a local BJP MLA. His suspension triggered statewide protests, with the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association calling it unjust and punishment for his efforts to curb illegal practices. Dr Bhagwan, during his stint as the Gurgaon CMO, was accused of molestation by a nurse in 2018. Then, in 2021, as Sonipat's principal medical officer, an FIR for molestation was registered against him after a doctor alleged that he had sent her obscene messages. He was suspended by the health department a third time.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi seeks Siddaramaiah's apology after experts ruled out Covid jab caused heart attacks
Union Consumer Affairs & Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to apologise to scientists and researchers for 'insulting' them with his comments that Covid-19 vaccines may have caused heart attack deaths in Hassan district. Pralhad's demand came after an expert panel constituted by the state government into heart attack related deaths in Hassan district ruled out any link between the vaccination and heart attacks. When the pandemic broke out in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted swiftly and released grants. Siddaramaiah too took the shots of the vaccine in India, not overseas, Joshi told the media in Hubballi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Depuratore d'acqua di nuova generazione: ecco quanto costa Depuratori d'acqua Scopri di più Undo The PM dealt with the pandemic far more effectively compared to other countries. But Siddaramaiah's statement was offensive to our scientists and questioned the efficacy of Indian vaccines where there was a huge demand for India-made pharma products in the oversea market, he said. Siddaramaiah's comments suggesting Covid-19 vaccination may have caused the recent heart-attack related deaths had triggered a wave of rebuttals from senior doctors, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and the BJP. Live Events The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences had dismissed any connection between the two. A study on the people who succumbed to sudden cardiac arrests did not reveal any link to the Covid vaccination, AIIMS experts said.
