The 20 minutes outside that eased stress most
Among 36 city dwellers, 20 to 30 minutes in an outdoor nature spot gave the most stress relief for the time spent.
For 36 city dwellers in one study, 20 to 30 minutes in an outdoor nature spot gave the most stress relief for the time spent.
The study
Over eight weeks, 36 urban residents were asked to spend at least ten minutes in an outdoor place that felt like contact with nature, three or more times a week, choosing their own time and place. They gave saliva samples before and after to measure stress hormones. Time in nature lowered a key stress hormone, and the benefit per minute was greatest between 20 and 30 minutes, with smaller gains after that.
Starting small
A local park, a garden, or a quiet green corner can count. Setting aside 20 minutes there a few times a week is a manageable habit to try.