By Vidya Krishnan | November 28, 2025
What are Greenspaces?
Greenspaces (sometimes spelled “green spaces”) are areas of grass, trees, and shrubs that are generally built for aesthetic or recreational purposes. This includes urban parks, national parks, community gardens, and forests.
Most greenspaces are designed to aid with environmental issues and to mitigate the effects of urbanization. The trees provide shade, cool the air, absorb pollutants, and above all, allow communities to have a common place to interact.
Parks are not the only kind of greenspaces. Community gardens where everyone comes together to grow vegetation for the public are a great example. Even cemeteries, zoos, riversides, and green roofs are greenspaces that you can access.
Almost every urban area across the globe has greenspaces. If you are struggling to find one in your city, there is always a national park or forest reserve that you can visit.
Can Nature Really Reduce Anxiety and Stress?
Studies conducted by several organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have found a strong correlation between greenspaces and better mental health. Researchers found that after participants viewed green environments, they began to show signs of increased self-esteem, life satisfaction, and happiness, alongside reduced anxiety and depression. It can also help alleviate strong emotions like anger, sadness, and loneliness.
The Science Behind the Scenery
The Stress Reduction Theory states that natural environments can reduce stress, while urban areas can actually induce it. This is because natural areas activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells the body to rest and recuperate. This activation allows for:
- A lowered heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure
- Decreased levels of the stress-inducing hormone, cortisol
The NIH also found that greenspaces, just like medicines, are most effective when taken with a certain “dosage.” Depending on the person, as little as 10 to 50 minutes of exposure could be enough. However, people who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature saw the strongest positive effects on their mental health.
How Do I Take Advantage of This?
It is easy to say you can just go to the nearest park, but how can you really take advantage of the greenspaces around you to improve your well-being?
If you are planning on visiting your local park, don’t just sit idle. Instead, try coming up with an active hobby. You could try:
- Biking, walking, or jogging
- Having a picnic with your family
- Playing cards with your friends
- Birdwatching
Using Temptation Bundling
This strategy relies on temptation bundling, where you pair a necessary or “boring” habit with something you highly enjoy to make the routine stick. In this case, if traveling to your nearest greenspace feels like a chore, pairing it with your favorite hobby makes it far easier to build the habit.
If there are no public parks near you, the next best option is to look for tree-lined streets and roads. Because those trees are green, they legally and environmentally make up a greenspace. The easiest way to take advantage of them is to roll down your car window as you drive by. You can also practice your park exercises—like biking, walking, or birdwatching—right on your local street.
No matter where you go, try to intentionally absorb the nature around you as you move through your day.