Two Hours a Week in Nature: What a Big Study Found
A study of 20,000 people found a simple pattern: those who spent at least two hours a week in nature were more likely to feel well. Here is what it means for you.
Photo by Babak Eshaghian on Unsplash
We often feel better after a walk in the woods or by the sea. A large study from England put a number on it.
The study
In 2019, researchers led by Mathew White at the University of Exeter looked at data from about 20,000 people in England. They asked how much time people had spent in nature in the past week, and how they rated their health and wellbeing.
People who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature were more likely to report good health and high wellbeing than people who spent no time in nature. Spending less than two hours showed no clear difference. The benefit seemed to level off around 200 to 300 minutes a week.
It doesn't matter how you split it
One of the most practical findings: it didn't seem to matter whether the time came from one long weekend walk or several short visits during the week.
What counts as nature
In the study, nature included parks, woods, beaches, the countryside and other green or blue spaces. A local park counts. So does a quiet path by a river.
Ideas for your two hours
- A twenty-minute walk in a park on most days.
- Morning coffee on a bench outside, three times a week.
- A longer weekend walk with a friend.
- Gardening, even in a small yard.
- Lunch outside instead of at the desk.
A note on what the study shows
This was an observational study. It shows a link, not proof that nature caused better wellbeing. People who feel well may also go outside more. Still, time in nature is free, low-risk and pleasant for most people.
Start this week
Look at your week and find two hours. Put them in your calendar like an appointment. Your mind may thank you.
