SLASH your risk of CHRONIC DEPRESSION and reduce ANXIETY by simply NATURE WALKING 15 minutes a day
By sdwells // 2025-08-11
Copy
 
Reduce anxiety, depression and fatigue in just 15 minutes by walking in nature. Who knew? Sounds made up, but now science has proven it true. Plus, this will improve your mood and cognitive function, so it’s time to engage this simple, enjoyable task regularly and reap the health benefits across the board. A sweeping review led by Stanford University scientists has determined the exact amount of time people need to spend outdoors to reap substantial mental health benefits—just 15 minutes a day. Drawing on nearly 450 studies, the analysis found that even short periods in nature significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with effects extending to improved mood and cognitive function.
  • 15 Minutes in Nature Boosts Mental Health: A Stanford-led review of nearly 450 studies found that just 15 minutes a day outdoors significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with mood benefits stronger from relaxing in nature than from exercising outdoors.
  • More Time Equals Greater Benefits: Spending over 45 minutes a day outside further reduces stress and increases vitality, with young adults seeing especially strong improvements—critical given most mental health disorders develop before age 25.
  • Urban Green Spaces Matter: Even small city parks, forests, and “pocket parks” can meaningfully improve mental health, leading researchers to call for more green spaces as urban populations are projected to reach 70% globally by 2050.
  • Growing Mental Health Crisis: Rising rates of depression and anxiety—now affecting nearly one in six adults and almost a quarter of children in England—are linked to factors such as cost-of-living pressures and unemployment among young adults, underscoring the need for accessible daily nature exposure.

Just 15 Minutes Outdoors Can Significantly Cut Depression Risk, Landmark Study Finds

Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that exercising outdoors was not necessary to achieve these mental health benefits. Simply relaxing in a natural environment for a quarter of an hour proved more effective for mood enhancement than engaging in physical activity in nature. Lead author Professor Yingjie Li emphasized that “momentary interactions” with nature, such as sitting in a park, can meaningfully lower stress and improve overall well-being. While 15 minutes was enough to produce measurable improvements, spending more than 45 minutes outdoors amplified the positive effects, further reducing stress levels and boosting vitality. This finding adds to decades of evidence that natural environments—whether rural landscapes or urban green spaces—positively impact mental health and may even improve cardiovascular health. Crucially, this study is the first of its kind to differentiate the benefits of various types of natural settings. It concluded that even small urban parks, tree-lined streets, and local forests could deliver meaningful psychological relief. Young adults appeared to gain the most from outdoor exposure, an important finding given that most mental health conditions develop before age 25. The research comes at a time when mental health challenges are surging worldwide. In the UK, the number of people seeking help for mental illness has jumped by 40% since before the pandemic, with nearly four million individuals now in treatment. Depression—characterized by persistent low mood, lack of pleasure in activities, and low self-esteem—affects at least one in six adults during their lifetime. Physical symptoms can include changes in appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and decreased libido. Anxiety, often co-occurring with depression, can further worsen the impact on daily life. Alarming figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that almost a quarter of children in England have a probable mental disorder, underscoring the urgency of prevention and intervention strategies. As urban populations are expected to reach 70% by 2050, researchers warn that without intentional planning, mental health pressures will intensify. To counter this trend, the study’s authors urge policymakers to expand access to nature in cities by creating “pocket parks,” planting street trees, and ensuring all communities—especially those with high youth populations—have accessible green spaces. The findings suggest that even modest urban greening initiatives could be a cost-effective tool in addressing the global mental health crisis. Officials note that rising rates of anxiety and depression are likely influenced by multiple factors, including greater awareness of mental health conditions and socioeconomic pressures such as the cost-of-living crisis. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, the number who are economically inactive due to health reasons has more than doubled in the past decade. Ultimately, the Stanford review highlights that the solution to improving mental well-being may be as simple—and accessible—as spending a few quiet minutes outdoors each day. Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies and holistic living, including simple exercising, for preventative medicine and for healing, instead of succumbing to Big Pharma products that cause, spread, and exacerbate disease and disorder. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com DailyMail.co.uk        
Copy