Spending time in a city park can make you happier. This, according to a University Alabama study that examined the emotional impact of visiting parks in urban areas.  

Researchers found that spending just 20 minutes in a city park improved emotional wellbeing. Immersing oneself in the natural environment and engaging in recreational activities led to significant mental health benefits like stress reduction.

The study says these effects were not dependent on engaging in physical activity. Spending time at the park made participants happier whether they were exercising or not.

This shows that city parks have a positive impact on our emotional health. Researchers say access to green settings in urban areas is essential.

Source:

UAB (2019, February 25). Urban Parks Could Make You Happier. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from http://neurosciencenews.com/happiness-urban-parks-10811/

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Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett is the Content Development Manager at Thriveworks. She devotes herself to distributing important information about mental health and wellbeing, writing mental health news and self-improvement tips daily. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism, with minors in professional writing and leadership from Virginia Tech. She is a co-author of Leaving Depression Behind: An Interactive, Choose Your Path Book and has published content on Thought Catalog, Odyssey, and The Traveling Parent.

Check out “Leaving Depression Behind: An Interactive, Choose Your Path Book” written by AJ Centore and Taylor Bennett."

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