<p>In a previous episode on <a href="https://www.arthurbrooks.com/podcast/the-science-behind-being-good-at-leisure" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">leisure</a>, I talked about how fewer and fewer people are spending time outdoors. Today, the average child spends just minutes outside each day, a dramatic shift from how most of us grew up and from how humans have lived for thousands of years.</p><p>In today’s episode of <em>Office Hours</em>, I explain why reconnecting with nature is essential for your happiness and well-being. Drawing on research from psychology and neuroscience, I show how time outdoors can reduce anxiety and depression, improve cognitive function, and even help you break free from the constant cycle of comparison and rumination.</p><p>You might think your life is not compatible with spending more time outside. But the evidence suggests the opposite: you can’t afford <em>not</em> to. I share with you three practical ways to bring nature back into your daily life. I hope you try them and get outside to touch some grass!</p><p>—</p><p><strong>Brought to you by:</strong></p><p><a href="https://noblemobile.com/arthurbrooks" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Noble Mobile</strong></a>—With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get cash back. Get an exclusive offer at: <a href="https://noblemobile.com/arthurbrooks" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://noblemobile.com/arthurbrooks</a> </p><p>—</p><p><strong>Where to find Arthur Brooks: </strong></p><p>• Website: <a href="https://arthurbrooks.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arthurbrooks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Newsletter: <a href="https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> </p><p>• X: <a href="https://x.com/arthurbrooks" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/arthurbrooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>• Email: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>—</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>(00:00) Intro</p><p>(05:14) How much time do people spend outdoors today?</p><p>(07:10) Why we’re spending more time inside</p><p>(11:05) What happens when you don’t get enough time outdoors</p><p>(12:31) What happens when you add nature back in</p><p>(19:08) #1: Spend as much time as you can outside</p><p>(22:04) #2: Witness/touch nature</p><p>(24:27) #3: Start a walking routine</p><p>(26:36) Why you’ll enjoy being in nature more than you think</p><p>(27:23) Lessons from transcendentalism</p><p>(28:46) Q&amp;A: The difference between happiness and joy</p><p>(30:24) Q&amp;A: Serving others without resentment</p><p>—</p><p><strong>Referenced:</strong> </p><p>• <em>The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness</em>: <a href="http://themeaningofyourlife.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">themeaningofyourlife.com</a></p><p>• Meaning Membership: <a href="https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-membership" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-membership</a> </p><p>• Arthur’s newsletter: <a href="https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter</a> </p><p>• The Happiness Scale: <a href="https://learn.arthurbrooks.com/the-happiness-scale" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://learn.arthurbrooks.com/the-happiness-scale</a> </p><p>•<em> The Pursuit of Happiness with Arthur Brooks</em>: <a href="https://www.thefp.com/s/the-pursuit-of-happiness-with-arthur" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thefp.com/s/the-pursuit-of-happiness-with-arthur</a> </p><p>• Global survey finds we’re lacking fresh air and natural light, as we spend less time in nature: <a href="https://press.velux.com/new-global-survey-finds-were-lacking-fresh-air-and-natural-light-as-we-spend-less-time-in-nature" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://press.velux.com/new-global-survey-finds-were-lacking-fresh-air-and-natural-light-as-we-spend-less-time-in-nature</a></p><p>• <em>The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness</em>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036</a></p><p>• Stanford researchers find mental health prescription: Nature: <a href="https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2015/06/hiking-mental-health-063015" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2015/06/hiking-mental-health-063015</a></p><p>• Why Is Nature Beneficial? The Role of Connectedness to Nature: <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d8921893ec7066969f68df5/t/5d94da7035bc6f4984f509d1/1570036337561/the_role_of_connectedness_to_nature_on_positive_affect_2009.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d8921893ec7066969f68df5/t/5d94da7035bc6f4984f509d1/1570036337561/the_role_of_connectedness_to_nature_on_positive_affect_2009.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com</a></p><p>• ...References continued at: <a href="https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>—</p><p>Production and marketing by ⁠<a href="https://penname.co/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>⁠. </p>