Nature exposure and slow jogging linked to improved mental well-being

Recent studies have identified specific durations of physical and environmental exposure that optimize mental well-being and cognitive performance.

Researchers at National Taiwan University conducted a study in Taichung involving over 2,000 park visitors. The findings, published in 'Environment and Behavior', indicate that while short visits improve mood, a 45-minute threshold is the critical point where visitors report a significantly stronger sense of well-being. The study analyzed various park environments, including meadows, hiking trails, and ponds, among participants aged 20 to 65.

Separately, a study from the University of Tsukuba published in 'Imaging Neuroscience' examined the effects of slow jogging. Testing 24 young adults, researchers found that just ten minutes of very slow running—at approximately 35 percent of maximum oxygen uptake—can improve mood and enhance executive functions, such as attention control and impulse inhibition, as measured by the Stroop color-word test.