The average Brit spends
92% of their time indoors
on a weekly basis, reveals
Ribble Cycles, who
surveyed more than
1,000 adults.92%
Doctor’s orders
‘With a growing number of scientific
studies showing that being outdoors
boosts our physical and psychological
wellbeing, it’s no surprise that some
doctors are even prescribing spending
time in nature,’ says positive psychology
expert and author Vanessa King.
Known as ‘green health prescriptions’,
a new initiative launched in Dundee is
offering patients nature-based activities
as part of their treatment.
Whether it’s a local woodland area,
park or even your back garden, the NHS
believe that there’s a strong connection
between green space and good mental
and physical health. So what gains can
you get from going green?
1
IT BOOSTS YOUR
ENERGY
Feeling sluggish? Skip the cup of
joe first thing and head outdoors. A
study by the University of Rochester
suggests that 90% of people experience
increased energy just by participating in
activities outside, and 20 minutes will give
you the same boost as your morning brew.
2
IT’S GOOD FOR
YOUR EYES
A Canadian study has found that
for every additional hour spent outdoors
per week, the risk of kids developing
myopia (short sightedness) drops by
14%. Meanwhile, the average adult Brit
spends eight hours and 41 minutes staring
at screens every day, so it’s important to
give your eyes a break, says ocular expert
Francesca Marchetti from eye advisory
panel WINK. Being outdoors forces you
to look further in the distance, which
naturally lubricates eyes and allows
your eye muscles and lenses to relax.
3
IT INCREASES YOUR
IMMUNITY
Scientists believe breathing
in phytoncides – airborne chemicals
produced by plants – increases our
levels of white blood cells, helping
us fight off infections. Plus,
a study by the University of
East Anglia found exposure
to a diverse variety of
bacteria present in natural
areas is beneficial for the
immune system.4
YOU GET YOUR
DAILY DOSE OF
VITAMIN D
It’s essential for our bodies to function
well, but we need to be outdoors to get
it. Make the most of it, as come October,
UK sunlight doesn’t contain enough UVB
radiation for our skin to make vitamin D.5
IT IMPROVES YOUR
MENTAL HEALTH
Spending time in nature can help
boost your mood – with just 20-30
minutes a day reducing cortisol levels.
In a study by MIND, participants were
assigned to go for a walk in
either nature or a shopping
centre – 71% had reduced
symptoms of depression
after their nature walk, but
22% of the mall walkers
were more depressed.6
YOU’LL SLEEP
BETTER
Struggle to drift off?
Exposure to natural light first thing can
help us regulate our circadian rhythm,
so our body clocks become more in
tune with nature’s light and dark cycle,
and we’re more able to sleep at night.‘Even on the
gloomiest day, natural
light is 10 times
stronger than a
brightly lit office,’
says Vanessa.