Spend Time Outdoors This Summer to Reap Health Benefits

University of Washington · Seattle Times · June 27, 2019

Featuring Josh Lawler, director of Nature and Health, and Dr. Pooja S. Tandon, Nature and Health researcher

Fresh air, lush foliage, open space, and sunshine. Time spent outdoors isn’t just good for the soul — research at UW EarthLab is showing it’s also good for the mind and body.

Even in the Pacific Northwest, where the weather is often, let’s say, less than optimal, getting out into nature brings with it a host of health benefits.

And there are plenty of options in the Seattle area, even in the heart of the city.

“There’s good evidence that spending time outside can reduce stress, depression levels, and anxiety,” says Josh Lawler, a UW environmental & forest sciences professor. Lawler is the director of the Nature and Health Initiative, a multidisciplinary research program launched last fall with funding from REI.