How Much Time Should You Spend Outdoors?

Written by Yuko Tabasa

There are many pros and cons to our ever-evolving modernization. One may argue that having access to many types of advanced medicine and proper healthcare are good points to add to the pros list. However, one may also argue that because of our current technological boom, we now spend more time indoors, overworking ourselves in front of our computers or overindulging in too much television. This sedentary lifestyle can cause health problems, leading us to become dependent on modern medicine.

But it doesn’t have to be this way — not if you spend time outdoors. Yes, spending time in the great outdoors, getting a whiff of the fresh breeze and feeling the warm rays of sunlight on your skin is just as great of medicine as any drug or pill. In addition, allowing yourself to be in an outdoor setting has therapeutic benefits for your mental health.

But how much time should you really be spending outdoors?

What Does It Mean to Be ‘Outdoors’?

By outdoors, it does not mean simply walking outside your home, gazing at whatever plant, tree, building or road is in front of you and going, Ah, yes … outside. There is a difference between being outdoors and just being outside.

The term ‘greenspace’ defines what it means to be in the great outdoors in medical-scientific terminology. Greenspace can be understood as areas with good natural and ecological biodiversity. Therefore, places with a good distribution of plants and animals can be considered greenspaces and an ‘outdoor area.’

In a traditional sense, greenspaces are natural locations such as forests, mountain trails, campsites and beaches. However, not everybody has the time and luxury to go to these places, so more modern and urban greenspaces can include parks, botanical gardens, home gardens and similar settings.

A stroll down a street populated by many trees and plants could be as good as an actual hike in the countryside. Spending some time gardening and getting your hands dirty can be as meditative as having a sunset yoga session by the beach. What truly matters is that you immerse yourself in these green spaces.

Reported Benefits of Being Outdoors

To back up our claim with some science, we’ve collected some studies that prove how healing the outdoors can be. A meta-analysis on the plausible benefits of exposure to greenspaces found improvements in both physical and mental health. These improvements include reducing diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, cortisol levels, type II diabetes and stroke incidence, decreased HRV and HDL cholesterol and overall better self-reported health.

As for psychological benefits, research indicates that more outdoorsy individuals report lower stress levels, significantly reduced symptomology for anxiety and depression-related disorders and better self-reported well-being. In addition, children raised in more greenspace and eco-immersive environments develop better cognition, especially those with a possible attention-deficit disorder or have other developmental issues.

Taking some time to spend in the great outdoors will significantly reduce your stress and improve your mental cognition. Stress reduction can make you less prone to nervous breakdowns, depressive episodes and anxiety-related symptoms. Additionally, improved cognition allows one to be more in tune with whatever task they’re working on; therefore, clearing one’s mind by regularly engaging in greenspaces or the outdoors will improve personal productivity and well-being.

How Much Time Should I Spend Outdoors?

The optimal time to spend outdoors should be at least 20 minutes a day. Additionally, people should try to spend at least 5 hours a month in greenspace areas and up to 3 days a year.

Ideally, you should spend between 20 to 30 minutes per day involved in outdoor activities. Something as simple as gardening or a walk through the local park should suffice for your daily need for some outdoor time.

Is There Such a Thing As Spending Too Much Time Outdoors?

Too much of a good thing can be detrimental in the long run. However, there seems to be a soft cap on reaping the benefits of spending time outdoors for spending time outdoors. Research has observed that 120 minutes seems to be the most time an individual needs to get the absolute most of greenspace activities. Past 120 minutes, results showed similar responses to those who spent less than 120 minutes outside.

Engaging in greenscape and outdoor activities can help you achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Engross yourself in a nice walk or trek up a hill or maybe go for a quick trip to the beach or park. Whatever you plan to do, take time off from being glued to your screens and start replacing your scrolling with some strolling!