When we're outside our task-oriented brain, our frontal cortex is getting a little bit of a break,

you know, just like an overused muscle. And then when we go back to these cognitive tasks,

you know, we're just refreshed and we're sharper. I'm Jocelyn K. Gly, and this is Hurry Slowly,

a podcast about pacing yourself, where I explore how you can

avoid burnout, improve your productivity, and activate your creative mind all through the simple

act of slowing down. Today I'm taking a deep dive into the seemingly endless benefits of

spending time in parks, green spaces, and nature

with a capital N. My guide is Florence Williams, who's a contributing editor at Outside

magazine and the author of the wonderful book, The Nature Fix, Why Nature Makes Us Happier,

healthier, and more creative. Nature is a subject that is near and dear to my heart.

Though I've lived in New York City for the past 12 years, with two failed attempts to escape,

I spent nearly all of my waking moments up until age six playing in the woods of rural Virginia.

I am literally up in a tree in almost every photo that exists of me as a child.

And as someone who loves the pulse of the city as an adult, I've always been conflicted about how to make sure I'm also getting adequate doses of nature.

Trails and trees and hikes feel vital to me, but it can be hard to find time for those spaces when you live in an urban

environment.

That said, when you do, the benefits are exponential.

Nature really is the best medicine.

And in this conversation with Florence, we dig into the science behind why.

Looking at the latest research from all over the world about how spending more time in nature can sharpen your memory,

increase your creativity, lower your stress levels, and even counteract negative thought loops.

We also talk about the science of awe, the Japanese art of forest bathing, and something called the nature pyramid,

...