Quick Ways to Get Out in Nature

Whether you have five minutes, 20 minutes, two hours, or all day, here are some ways to get outside.

Woman sitting on the ground in an entryway looking outside at her yard.

By Henry Emmons, MD | Experience LifeJune 17, 2020

If you have five minutes:

Sink your bare feet into the grass.
Walk mindfully to your next destination.
Gaze out the window at something beautiful.

If you have 20 minutes:

Go for a walk outside.
Eat your lunch outdoors.
Lie on your back and gaze at the sky.

If you have two hours:

Pack a picnic for your family or a small
group of friends (when it’s safe to do so).
Explore the trails in a nearby park.
Read a book in a hammock between your favorite trees.

If you have all day:

Take on a gardening project.
Take a day trip by canoe or kayak.
Go for a long, leisurely bike ride.

This originally appeared as “Nature in Mind” in the June 2020 print issue of Experience Life.

Henry Emmons, MD is an integrative psychiatrist and the author of The Chemistry of Joy, The Chemistry of Calm, and Staying Sharp. He is the cofounder of NaturalMentalHealth.com.

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