Our mental health often feels like a mystery. A cheerful mood can inexplicably give way to sad or scary thoughts. Even though we might try to manage our emotional well-being through things like talk therapy, self-care apps, meditation, and medication, it’s easy to feel like contentment remains just beyond our grasp.
Yet scientific research suggests that we’re overlooking one critical factor for optimum mental health: nature.
You might grumble skeptically at the notion that parks and plants make a real difference in our happiness, but the research is convincing. A pile of studies on the subject consistently points to a strong connection between green space and mental health. In general, scientists believe that experiences in “green space” can boost mental health by improving the immune system, encouraging physical activity and social interaction, limiting air pollution and noise that interferes with thinking, and restoring a frenzied mind to a state of calm. Read more…
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