Green time is an easy way to improve health and well-being in everyday life. It refers to any time spent in natural environments, whether in a local park, forest, beach, or other green or blue space.
The Health from Nature programme, coordinated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), recommends that everyone spend time in nature regularly. Research shows that as little as 15 minutes can provide measurable health benefits.
Green time is an easy way to support your health
Spending time in nature offers a practical and accessible way to improve well-being. It requires no special equipment, skills, or schedules.
Research evidence shows that:
- health benefits can be observed after just 10–15 minutes in nature
- benefits include reduced stress, improved mood, and better recovery from daily demands
- both short and longer nature visits provide benefits, even when undertaken only a few days per week
- nature time can take many forms, such as walking, relaxing outdoors, or gardening.
“I encourage everyone to think about how they spend their time each day. Could you find 15 minutes for nature? For many people, reducing screen time slightly could free up enough time to enjoy nature. In Finland, nature is usually close by, and people can enjoy nature time not only in forests but also in urban parks and yards”, says Jaana Halonen, Chief Researcher at THL.
“Fifteen minutes in a nearby forest, by the shore, or on a familiar outdoor trail already counts as green time. If you are not yet familiar with the nature close to home, the Luontoon.fi website and mobile app offer a vast selection of nearby trails and nature destinations across Finland. And if your appetite for exploring nature grows, you can also find all our national parks there”, says Harri Karjalainen, Communications Manager at Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland.
Proven benefits for body and mind
Studies have shown that spending time and being physically active in nature can:
- support mental health
- reduce stress and improve resilience
- help prevent overweight and type 2 diabetes
- strengthen the body’s immune system.
Research has found a positive association between green time and mental well-being. Screen time, on the other hand, has been linked to opposite effects.
How to add more nature time to your daily life
Even small moments in nature can make a difference:
- walk to work or school through a park or wooded area
- take a short visit to a park, forest, or beach
- recover from daily stress in nearby natural surroundings and listen to the sounds of nature
- enjoy views of nature from a window.
“Everyone can find their own way to enjoy nature. The most important thing is to make time for being outdoors. Even small amounts of nature time add up”, Halonen says.
A good opportunity to start spending more time in nature is Finnish Nature Day, celebrated on Saturday, 29 August.
Part of the Health from Nature programme
Increasing green time is one of the objectives of the ten-year Health from Nature programme. The programme aims to increase the use of nature’s health benefits in everyday life, health and social care, and workplaces. It seeks to make nature-based health promotion a practical part of disease prevention and well-being promotion.
The nature time recommendation supports the programme’s goal of improving population well-being through accessible and cost-effective measures.
The programme is coordinated by THL. Partners include Sitra, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finnish Allergy, Skin and Asthma Federation, Finnish Lung Health Association, MIELI Mental Health Finland, The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland, the Age Institute, the Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities, City of Vantaa, and Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland.