You do not need hiking boots or a weekend away to get something out of nature. Research suggests short, regular time in green spaces can reduce stress, improve mood and support overall well-being.

Todd Lookingbill, from the University of Richmond, wrote that after spending spring 2026 teaching and studying urban landscapes in Denmark, he was struck by how people used parks and green spaces in everyday life. He wrote that these places were used to eat lunch, meet friends, walk home from work or pause for a few quiet moments, and that “Getting outside seemed a part of the natural rhythm of the day.”

He wrote that Denmark’s outdoor culture came from parks being “fundamentally woven into the routines of everyday life.”

Lookingbill said evidence linking time in nature with health benefits has increasingly shaped public policy. He pointed to the U.S. National Park Service’s Healthy Parks Healthy People and ParkRx initiatives as examples of recognition that access to parks contributes to well-being.

He wrote that many Americans think of major national parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite or the Grand Canyon when they hear the word park, but said parks of all kinds can improve health. He added that “The greatest public health value may come not from the parks people visit once in a lifetime, but from those close enough to visit again and again.”

Lookingbill said his own research on Civil War battlefield parks showed how accessible green space can fit into daily routines. He wrote that many of these parks preserve forests, grasslands and trails near major metropolitan areas, making them easy to revisit during a lunch break or after work.

At the University of Richmond, he said a stream restoration project became a chance to rethink how nature fits into campus life. Landscape architects designed what became known as the Eco-Corridor, with walking paths, gathering spaces and seating areas beside streams and native vegetation.

He wrote that the project supported biodiversity and water quality while also creating places for students, faculty and staff to walk between meetings, eat lunch outside or spend quiet time outdoors during the workday. He added that volunteers help care for the site by spreading mulch, removing invasive plants and tending the community garden.

“What we learned was that nature doesn’t have to compete with work, studying, or everyday responsibilities,” Lookingbill wrote.

He said design matters, but so does mindset. He referenced the Scandinavian concept of “friluftsliv,” which refers to living life in the outdoors and reflects the idea that more time in fresh air is better.

Lookingbill cited a COVID-era study of international students in their 20s and 30s in Berlin, which found that frequent visits to nearby parks supported social connections and significantly improved emotional and social well-being.

He also pointed to work in Copenhagen, where educators and therapists use specially designed forests and therapy gardens for reflection and stress recovery. He wrote that visitors are encouraged to slow down, engage their senses and step away from work and technology.

He said even in American cities built around car use, short and routine time outdoors can still help. A 2026 study in Raleigh, North Carolina, found that college students who sat on a bench for 10 minutes listening to birdsong felt less stressed and emotionally refreshed.

Lookingbill suggested simple ways to make nature part of daily life, including eating lunch outside, taking a greener route to work, having walking meetings, taking a 10-minute nature break and joining outdoor programs or volunteer days.

“Sometimes it’s about taking advantage of the opportunities in your own backyard.”

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