Whether you’re crunching leaves on a shaded path, stretching out on the grass at Memory Grove, or pausing to watch fresh snow settle on the Wasatch peaks, just 10 minutes in nature can ease anxiety and boost mood, according to new University of Utah research.
“We know nature plays an important role in mental health, but behavioral health providers often overlook it as a clinical intervention,” says Joanna Bettmann Schaefer MSW’99, lead author and professor at the U’s College of Social Work.
After analyzing 30 years of data, researchers found that time outdoors supports mental well-being, with all kinds of activities and settings showing positive effects. Whether it was a brief visit to a city park or a multi-day wilderness trip, all types of nature exposure demonstrated beneficial changes in adult mental health. Even the simplest moments—like a walk by a stream or a quiet rest under a tree—can offer a meaningful reset.
Photographer Howie Garber MD’80 captured this dramatic scene at Kanarra Falls in southern Utah. (©Howie Garber)
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