ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Dr. Jilda Hodges, a licensed psychologist at Lehigh Psychological Services, says being outdoors has a calming effect that can reduce stress hormones and improve concentration.
“You get the benefits of the sun, like Vitamin D. And there’s actually physical impacts as well, like lowered blood pressure and lowered cortisol,” Hodges says.
She sometimes writes “nature prescriptions” to patients, she says, so they can take advantage of this “free medicine.”
Hodges says spending just 20 minutes in a park or natural space is enough time. As long as you’re not staring at your cell phone.