How just 15 minutes in nature can boost your well-being

Just 15 minutes in nature a day can boost your well-being by increasing your mood, concentration and physical health

The average UK person spends just 7% of their time (or 86 minutes) outdoors during the work week. This is shocking to hear, but with our busy schedules, it’s no wonder many of us can only find a few minutes each day to get outside.

Spending time outside, particularly in nature, is important because it can help regulate stress, boost mental health, and improve immune function.

But the good news is you don’t need to spend hours outdoors each day to see the benefits. Just 15 minutes a day in nature is enough to boost your mood, concentration and physical health.

1. Mood boost

The connection between nature and mood is the most consistent finding across all nature and health studies.

Spending time in nature improves mood by increasing positive feelings such as happiness and optimism, reducing sadness and anxiety and decreasing rumination (fixating on negative thoughts). It also supports social connections by providing an open and neutral space to have meaningful interactions.

Even a one-hour break in nature can create a mental and physical distance from everyday stressors such as emails and to-do lists. It also restores and builds our capacity to handle the day’s challenges.

While one study found it’s most beneficial for your mood to go for a 75-minute walk in secluded woodlands, the research still showed that even walking in somewhat green areas – such as a tree-lined road – can confer mood benefits. This is important for those without access to dense forests near their homes or workplaces, as a short walk in a city park can still have a meaningful impact on mental well-being.

2. Better concentration

Taking breaks in nature can also improve cognitive performance. Numerous lab-based studies have found that people perform better on attention and memory tasks after viewing nature scenery versus when they looked at city scenery. Evidence also shows that simply having access to green spaces can improve working memory and attention span in children. Taking short outdoor breaks during the workday (as little as 10-15 minutes) can improve concentration in people who work in offices, as well.

Even when there…