Spending Time in Nature Is Good for Your Health—Here Are 6 Science-Backed Benefits

Many of us intuitively sense that nature is good for us—sitting outside just feels better than being cooped up indoors. Psychologist Marc Berman, PhD, is devoting his career to figuring out why that is, and how individuals and communities can best reap the benefits of natural spaces. In fact, he created an entirely new field of research—environmental neuroscience—focused on how nature affects the human brain and body. He put together his findings in the fun and informative book Nature and the Mind, which comes out on August 12, 2025.

We got a sneak peek at the book and interviewed Berman about some of the most surprising health benefits he discusses. Read on for excellent reasons to spend time outdoors this summer (and year-round).

It Improves Your Eyesight

“Exposure to natural light benefits eye health,” Berman says. Numerous studies show that spending time outdoors—about two hours a day, ideally—can prevent children and young adults from becoming nearsighteded. And a 2021 study revealed that reading outside can help adults sharpen the visual areas of their brain.

It Increases Your Attention Span

Toward the start of his career, Berman helped create a seminal study showing that people experience a whopping 20% improvement in attention and memory after taking a 50-minute walk in the park. “Natural stimulation, like trees, running water, clouds, and snow, refreshes our ability to focus. After taking a break in nature, you’ll perform better at work or at school or at any activity that requires a lot of focus,” he says.

It Alleviates Anxiety and Depression

The mood-boosting effects of nature are well documented, and Berman believes the benefit has to do with nature’s ability to restore our attention and focus. “Often depression puts people in a mental fatigue state, where it’s hard to concentrate,” he says. “Interacting with nature can counteract this mental fatigue and provide people with more cognitive resources to deal with the problems causing the depression. We’ve also found that interactions with nature can cause people to have more reflective and positive thoughts, which could help to control symptoms from anxiety and depression.” (He emphasizes that nature isn’t a replacement for medical treatments but can be a great supplement.)

It Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

In a fascinating study Berman coauthored, researchers found that adding 11 trees to a city street correlates with a 1% decrease in cardiometabolic disorders (heart disease, stroke, diabetes) among residents. He admits that scientists aren’t sure why this effect happens: “Maybe it has to do with air quality, maybe it has to do with exercise—it’s possible people are more likely to walk in a neighborhood that has more trees,” he says.

“It also might have to do with the aesthetic of nature,” he adds. “Maybe seeing the shapes, colors, and patterns of nature has healing properties. Remember that what is good for the mind is good for the body—when you consider that interactions with nature are good for the mind, like the improvements in attention, then maybe it’s not so far-fetched that those effects might also help to heal the body.”

It Boosts Your Immune System

When children played outside among plants, they experienced a significant boost in their immune systems after just 28 days, a Finnish study found. Berman says adults can benefit as well, explaining that the immune boost may have to do with exposure to beneficial bacteria and other microorganisms in the soil. “This might require getting your hands dirty and touching the dirt, undergrowth, and grass of natural environments. It’s possible that you can breathe in some of these microbes as well,” he explains.

It Makes You Kinder

As Berman explains, this falls under the category of “social health.” Research shows that people who live in apartment buildings surrounded by more nature experience less aggression. When we’re in nature, we tend to be more cooperative and social with others. “Often when people are in nature, especially very beautiful and immersive natural environments, it can cause a sense of awe,” Berman says. “This awe can be accompanied by a sense of being a part of something larger than ourselves, which can increase feelings of self-transcendence. We have even found that interactions with nature can cause people to think more about others and less about themselves.”