Numerous studies correlate time spent in nature with both physical and mental health benefits. Trading screen time for green time can help people of all ages in multiple ways:
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Improved mood
- Improved sleep quality
- Improved cognitive function
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved immune function
Achieving these benefits can be obtained by simply walking your dog around your neighborhood or sitting on a park bench. But nature immersion confers stronger benefits–removing oneself from the urban jungle to the woodland preserve, for instance. Mindfully connecting with the natural world deepens nature connections, with quality being more important than quantity. One researcher who has studied this correlation, Miles Richardson, promotes a daily habit of listing three good things in nature to foster stronger nature bonds.
Anne Guerry, a Stanford University researcher, reported that benefits of time spent in nature were observed to be especially pronounced in people between the ages of 19 and 25, perhaps because this age group is most in need of unplugging. “Nature disconnects you from the things you’ve been stressing about and puts you in the present moment,” she noted. 
Children need nature, too. Reports indicate that “children who learn and play in nature are healthier both mentally and physically” and that time spent in nature in childhood is associated with long-term psychological benefits. The American Psychiatric Association recommends “tapping into the health benefits of spending time outdoors in nature.”
The American Heart Association recommends time in nature to reduce stress and anxiety and offers 10 activities in nature to get people started. In Canada, doctors are actually prescribing time in nature to their patients, as part of the PaRx initiative.
Beyond the scientific data that support this correlation, it’s easy to recognize the benefits firsthand. A walk in the woods prompts us to unplug. We experience a change of scenery, a fresh perspective, distance from our stress sources, and a reminder of how we’re meant to be. The term biophilia refers to an innate drive to connect with nature, dating back to our ancestors’ undomesticated lifestyles. Moreover, the changes throughout the seasons and even throughout the day capture our attention, as do the sights and sounds of the natural world.
Even better: How we spend time in nature can achieve dual purpose, such as exercising in nature (walking, hiking, jogging, practicing yoga), meditating in nature, being creative in nature (drawing, writing, etc.), and socializing in nature. Sheldrake strives to provide an array of group programs to facilitate these varied approaches to nature connection.