Longevity Boost: Living Near a Park Adds Years to a Life

Just being outside can lower stress levels and blood pressure. But if you live near a recreational area, you can really reap incredible benefits. From treating depression to getting active, being near a park can add years to your life. In fact, researchers published an interesting study in the Lancet which revealed that for every 0.1 increase in green space (which we're simplifying here but they tied to a vegetative score) within 500 meters of a person's home, residents enjoyed a 4% premature death reduction risk. This is significant in terms of steering our lives into greater wellness and health. So in the interest of selling you on getting out to the park, let's look at how greenspaces help us thrive.

Going to the Park Reduces Stress

No matter what time of the year, it’s good to get out of the house and explore. Why? Because a change in scenery is good for our mental health. If you have a park nearby, exploring the beauty and landscape can help fight sadness and depression. 

Taking in the fresh air helps calm racing thoughts and offers perspective too. Finding a quiet spot to reflect and think or regroup and recharge helps to alleviate stress as well. If life seems to be going too fast, escape to a park, and find a spot to sit and think or walk until you feel better. Practice some deep breathing or bring a sketchbook and try your hand at drawing the landscape — but no matter what, getting centered on the immediate moment of peace in the park is a great way to rest a weary mind.

Parks Promote Physical Activity

Living near a park gives us more than just local beauty; it's a great place to get physical. Exploring trails, paths and garden areas promotes movement. Visiting a park makes it easy to walk, jog, run and bike. Some recreational parks have basketball hoops, baseball diamonds and soccer areas, too, making it convenient to socialize while you get fit. Try disc golf, roller skating, tennis, skateboarding, yoga in the park, or just walk the paths for a while. Bring a dog to make it even more fun.

Parks Bring Nature to those Who Need It

Parks are one of nature's more untouched places within an urban area. Wildflowers, trees and wetlands might be protected here, providing more diverse ecosystems in these areas to those who otherwise spend their days among the concrete jungles. Even in urban settings, you may see more bird species, insects and wildlife than you would otherwise. Landscaped areas might allow you to enjoy the beauty of flower gardens and waterscapes. All these various elements, together or individually, tend to promote relaxation and boost happiness. 

We humans need nature to be at our best. And as our cities continue to grow, parks offer us not only a respite from the city but help us connect to the parts of ourselves that need to remember we come from nature, not concrete.

Parks Offer Better Air Quality

Parks created in the middle of cities help store atmospheric carbon dioxide from that city, reducing the amount released into the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration plays a large part in halting climate change. Spending time at the park near green grass, trees and plants, exposes you to more oxygenated air, benefitting your lungs. Hopefully, you'll breathe easier as a result.

Whether you utilize green space to play, relax or restore, it makes more of an impact on your lifespan than you may have known. Our bodies crave nature, relaxation, fresh air, and physical activity, just as they do food, warmth, and shelter to keep us healthy. Have we done it? Are you ready to hit the park? We'll see you there!

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