Ever wondered why people mention the mountains or the beach as the way to find relief from the pressures of everyday life? As it turns out, there’s a reason we turn to natural environments to improve our well-being.  A growing body of research demonstrates there is a real association between time spent in natural spaces and a person’s health. With the holidays fast approaching, you might be wondering when and where your next “getaway” might be.

One study conducted in the UK, evaluated accessibility to both green (outdoor) and blue (water) spaces in relation to the rate of physical decline in older adults (aged 50 to 74 years at baseline).  Researchers found participants who had “higher residential surrounding greenness” also had less decline in walking speed over 10 years. Additionally, being near a combination of green and blue spaces was found to be associated with a “slower decline in walking speed and grip strength.”  The further the distance from home to the natural area, the faster the decline in walking speed.

Another study conducted in Hong Kong found that older adults who simply had a view of blue space from their home were more likely to report good general health.  Those who made the effort to go to the water feature had greater odds of high wellbeing.  The people tended to visit blue spaces more frequently if it was within a 10-15 minute walk, or if the person believed the space had good facilities and wildlife to view onsite.  Additionally, longer visits were associated with higher recalled well-being.

But, why?  There are a variety of reasons natural areas positively impact health.  An area that is primarily vegetation or water, by default, will tend to have lower air and noise pollution.  Natural areas lend themselves well to social functions like picnics and sporting events.  For most people, spending time in nature is recreational, and therefore may help relieve stress.  A walk through a park or a pick-up kickball game in the yard during a lunch break can help a person let go of stress and induce a restorative emotional feeling. Next time you are feeling stressed, head for a park or the lake.  Tennessee is blessed with a wide variety of state parks, greenway trails, parks and natural areas to explore.  Soak up some of what nature has to offer and help your mind and body stay healthy, naturally!

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