Gaby
Of course, time doesn’t literally flow more slowly—it’s just that our perception of it changes in nature. When we stroll through parks and forests, it seems to slow down. In contrast, in the city, we often feel like we’re running out of time, as if someone is stealing it from us in these concrete jungles.
The connection between our environment and the perception of time has been scientifically confirmed by researchers from various institutions around the world. They unanimously recommend that if you feel like there are not enough hours in the day, spend more time walking in green spaces. Fresh air walks can help slow down your perception of time, according to the Daily Mail.
What Scientists Say About the Benefits of Nature Walks
According to a study by scientists from the University of Turku (Finland) led by psychology professor Ricardo Correa, urban living makes us feel pressed for time, while immersing ourselves in nature slows down the pace of events.
Professor Correa and his colleagues compared how people perceive time in urban versus natural settings. They found that people believe a walk in the countryside takes longer than a walk of the same duration in the city.
In a research paper titled “Time Grows on Trees,” researcher Maria Davidenko and her colleagues from Carleton University (Canada) discovered that walking in nature feels slower than walking in the city. It also improves mood and reduces stress levels.
“When a person tries to use their time as efficiently as possible, spending it on a pleasurable activity in nature can not only enhance psychological well-being but also create the illusion that they spent more time enjoying that activity than they actually did,” the team noted in their report.
Volunteers involved in this study who reported feeling happier after a nature walk noted that time seemed to fly by. However, according to their estimates, they actually spent significantly more time outdoors.
Ruth Ogden, a professor of time psychology at Liverpool John Moores University (UK), and her colleague Jessica Thompson suggested in their article for The Conversation: “The natural world likely changes not only our sense of time in the moment but also our sense of the past and future.”
“Previous research shows that time spent in nature helps us shift our focus from the present moment to future needs. Therefore, instead of concentrating on the stress associated with time scarcity, nature helps us see the bigger picture,” the researchers wrote.
In their view, these findings can help people prioritize their actions and effectively achieve long-term goals.
