As often happens, my corporate career really started to take off when I began going on long-distance hikes: first the Kinizsi 100, then the Corsican GR20. These experiences fundamentally taught me about planning, perseverance, adaptability, and humility. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the mountains and forests, and whenever I can, I go hiking. These days, I have plenty of time, and ever since Otto joined me, it has become a daily routine.

I got curious and did some reading to see if there’s research on how walking and being in the forest impact our thinking. Turns out, there is! Over the past few years, more and more studies have been exploring the benefits of spending time in nature, particularly walking and “forest bathing.”

A study led by researchers at Stanford University found that walking increases creative inspiration. In four experiments involving 176 college students and adults, they showed that walking boosted creative output by an average of 60% and significantly improved creative and divergent thinking (generating multiple solutions to a problem). In one experiment, participants had to come up with alternative uses for a given object, and walkers provided significantly more original answers. However, walking did not improve tasks that required focused thinking.

So, while solving math problems might not be ideal during a walk, it’s a great time to reflect on challenges and explore different solutions.

But why walk in the forest rather than on a treadmill in an air-conditioned gym? There’s a lesser-known term: Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, whose benefits have been validated by numerous scientific studies. This traditional Japanese practice involves immersing oneself in nature for recreation and mindfulness. The goal is to consciously use all five senses to enjoy the natural environment. The term was first introduced by the Japanese Forestry Agency in 1982. Shinrin-Yoku translates to “taking in the forest atmosphere,” and a wealth of studies highlight its positive effects. The list of associated benefits is long:

• Reduces heart rate
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Positively affects cancer-fighting proteins
• Enhances respiratory function
• Lowers sympathetic nervous system activity (fight or flight)
• Boosts immune function

But perhaps the most important benefit for city dwellers, especially those running their own businesses, is stress relief. Stress wears you down, takes your breath away, and silently consumes both your body and soul. Research confirms that forests:

• Reduce cortisol levels (stress hormone)
• Decrease anxiety
• Alleviate depressive feelings
• Improve overall mood
• Enhance a positive outlook on life

How much time does it take to start feeling these effects? A research team from the University of Exeter found that spending just two hours a week in a forest significantly improves health and psychological well-being.

So, just two hours a week. Two hours of walking in the forest.

You’ll likely find a forest near your city, and surely you can spare two hours a week. I have the Mecsek right here, and fortunately, I have two hours every day.

One of those hours could even be shared.

This article was originally published on the vendler.hu blog.