Monday, May 03, 2010
(photo: David Wallechinsky
“Green exercise” can do wonders for people, even just a few minutes of it. Researchers in the United Kingdom have determined that short stretches of outdoor exercising, such as walking or cycling, can improve mood and self-esteem. The findings could have significant importance for businesses and prison officials.
“Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health,” Jules Pretty, a researcher at the University of Essex and head of the study, told the BBC News. Pretty added that requiring even a few minutes of exercising outdoors could benefit juvenile offenders.
Although the concept that it makes people feel better to be outdoors might seem obvious, some of the study’s conclusions were unexpected. For example, both self-esteem and mood were most improved during the first five minutes in a natural environment, while the benefits, particularly for self-esteem, tapered off as exposure continued. In addition, waterside environments, such as rivers and oceans, were most helpful.
-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky
What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis (by Jo Barton and Jules Pretty, Environmental Science and Technology)
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