Library

120 minutes a week: how much time in nature is linked with well-being

How much time do we need to spend in nature to feel the benefits? A large English study suggested a clear figure: about two hours a week. And it does not matter whether you spend it all at once or bit by bit.

3 November 2026 / 2 min read

"Forest bathing": what we know about shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of being in nature

In Japan, walking slowly in the forest paying attention to its sounds, scents and light is called a "forest bath". Studies suggest that it lowers stress. But how strong is the evidence?

3 November 2026 / 2 min read

Henry David Thoreau’s Walden: two years in the woods to live "deliberately"

In July 1845 a young writer built a cabin by Walden Pond and lived there for two years. The book he wrote about the experience still inspires those who want less noise and more meaning.

3 November 2026 / 5 min read

Awe: the emotion that makes us feel small, and more connected

Before a great mountain, a starry sky or an extraordinary work of art, we feel something that is not simply joy. Psychologists call it awe, and have studied it seriously only in the last two decades.

3 November 2026 / 5 min read

Why a walk in the park calms the mind: attention restoration theory

After a long working day our attention is exhausted. Studies suggest that natural settings help it recover more than city streets do.

28 October 2026 / 5 min read