Spending time in Nature

Green space = feel good

Take a moment or two to think about a place that brings you peace, or perhaps a place that brings you calm.

Or think about where you like to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, or where your favourite holiday location is.

Pictured it?

Chances are, that what makes you feel calm, you have thought about an outdoor, natural environment in some context. so a green space like parklands, trees.

Being outdoors, in a natural, green environment, has been shown to have positive effects on our mental health, promoting those feelings of happiness, connection and calm (Astell-Burt, Feng et al., 2024)

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Nature's Influence on Your Health

Beyond the obvious benefits of green space promoting physical activity such as walking, running and bike riding, research is also showing that exposure to nature in green spaces also has psychological, social, and cognitive benefits. Being in nature can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and can boost your mood.

Nature to combat loneliness

Professor Astell Burt and Associate Professor Feng have dedicated their careers to the link between health and green space. A recent study saw the environment we live in can increase the chances of being lonely, particularly if there aren’t quality green spaces close by. With 25% of Australian adults feeling lonely, this isn’t ideal.

But don’t fret! A target of 30% green space can reduce loneliness by up to 50%. Access to green spaces also promotes social interaction and community cohesion, which helps to foster a sense of belonging and supports connection with your networks.

If you're not happy with the green space around your community, be an advocate for better built environments and use our Community Walkability Checklist to encourage your local council for better spaces.

Getting outside can help us sit less, move more

If you aren’t yet convinced about the power of green space, let’s look at it from another angle. When you are stuck inside all day, this can increase our sedentary time, which we know is not ideal for our health. So, taking a break to move outside, not only gives us the boost to our health from the nature, but it also helps to break up big chunks of prolonged sitting time. You can read more about the importance of sitting less and moving more the Heart Foundation website.

 "Walking in nature resets my soul. It clears my mind and sets me up for a great day. I really notice when I miss my outdoor walks, my body longs for it." - Shelly, Sydney