Spending time in nature can make a big difference to how we feel, especially for people living in busy cities.
A new study from Leiden University and Stanford University shows that even short visits to green places in the city can help reduce stress, improve mood, and support better mental health.
These findings are especially important now, as more people than ever are living in cities. By the year 2050, about 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas.
City life can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. Many people living in cities suffer from anxiety, mood problems, and other mental health issues.
This new research, published in the journal Nature Cities, offers hope. It shows that green spaces like parks, trees, and small gardens can help ease these problems. Even a few minutes spent sitting quietly in nature can bring real benefits.
The researchers studied nearly 5,900 people through 78 different experiments. These studies took place outside in real-world settings and included different ways of spending time in nature, such as walking in the park or just sitting on a bench under trees.
The results were clear: all kinds of green spaces helped people feel better mentally. But urban forests—places with many trees—had the strongest effects, especially in reducing feelings of depression and anxiety.
Young adults seemed to benefit the most from spending time in nature. This is important because most mental health issues start before the age of 25.
Also, the study found something interesting: just sitting or resting in green areas helped more with reducing negative feelings than being active. Still, both rest and movement improved people’s mood and made them feel more awake and full of energy.
Roy Remme, a scientist from Leiden, pointed out that people felt better even after spending less than 15 minutes in nature. And for those who stayed longer—more than 45 minutes—the benefits were even greater. Their stress levels dropped, and they felt more refreshed and lively.
The research team says that city leaders and planners should not only protect large parks but also add more green areas throughout the city. This can include small “pocket parks,” street trees, and quiet green corners where people can relax.
Other low-cost ideas include designing buildings with windows that look out onto nature or creating programs that bring people into parks for group activities, like guided meditation.
Yingjie Li, one of the lead researchers, shared how working on this study changed his own habits. He started walking to work more often and began noticing the birds and plants around him.
He also encouraged his friends to do the same, showing that even small changes—like taking a few minutes to enjoy nature—can make life in the city feel less stressful.
In the end, the message is simple: nature is not just good for the planet, it’s also good for our minds. And the best part? We don’t need to travel far or spend a lot of money to enjoy the benefits. Just stepping into a nearby green space can be a powerful way to take care of our mental health.
If you care about health, please read studies that scientists find a core feature of depression and this metal in the brain strongly linked to depression.
For more health information, please see recent studies about drug for mental health that may harm the brain, and results showing this therapy more effective than ketamine in treating severe depression.
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