10 incredible benefits of being in nature

Mood and wellbeing

According to one study, a 90-minute walk in a natural environment can help lower levels of rumination. This is the ‘negative mind chatter’, associated with negative mood, depression, stress and anxiety. For calming benefits, being near the sea has a particular effect. Research shows that spending time by ‘blue spaces’ such as the sea, river, lake, waterfalls and fountains has many benefits for the mind and body including lowering stress and anxiety, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, slowing the breath and calming the nervous system.