ALLERGY PROOF YOUR OUTDOOR TIME

Three new science-backed ways to stop sneezing and sniffling if you’re affected by pollen.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
Three new science-backed ways to stop sneezing and sniffling if you’re affected by pollen.
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You’ll also be more motivated to exercise, a study in Scientific Reports found. People who visited green spaces at least once a week for about 30 minutes worked out more often than those who spent less time outside.

ZONE IN

“Focusing on the parts of your surroundings that you might ordinarily miss multiplies the restorative perks of being outside,” says Nina Smiley, the director of mindfulness programming at Mohonk Mountain House in New York. Immersing yourself in nature grounds you in the present moment, which reinforces the mental benefits nature offers. Next time you’re outdoors, listen to the sound leaves make when wind moves through them, or examine the pattern of bark on a nearby tree.

BRING THE GREEN TO YOU

Put a picture of a gorgeous landscape above your desk. When you can’t go outside, simply gazing at that scenery will calm your mind and help you concentrate, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science. While you’re at it, get a plant or two: People performed better on a mentally draining task when there were plants in the room, research in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found.

That’s because looking at plants gives you a mini version of the mental refresh that nature provides.
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