The pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us. But spending time outside – including in the green space of your own backyard – has proven to offer a coveted respite during this challenging time. Backyarding – using our outdoor spaces for everything from working and entertaining to even vacationing – is a trend that gained momentum during the pandemic. And scientists have discovered that spending time outside has helped our mental and physical well-being.

Here’s what the latest research shows.

• Green space and park use was associated with less emotional distress among U.S. college students during the pandemic.
• An international study found greater odds of depression and anxiety among adults who faced more severe COVID lockdowns but concluded that contact with nature reduced the negative effects.
• Bulgarian university students who spent an average of 20 hours per day at home during COVID reported better mental health if they had access to a garden, a view of greenery from their window, or houseplants.
• A poll conducted for the Nature Conservancy of Canada indicates that 94% of people credit time spent in nature with helping them cope with stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic’s second wave.
• Canadians who reported better mental health during the pandemic were more likely to report having exercised outdoors.

Interested in learning more about what scientists have discovered about the many benefits of green space? Check out the TurfMutt Foundation’s International Living Landscapes Fact Book.