#53 - Sleep and Green Spaces: Lay Me Down In the Tall Grass

There has been an explosion of research looking at relationships between one's proximity to nature and sleep. During the Covid pandemic, this research seemed more pressing than ever and rates of disordered sleep and mental health problems soared. In this episode, we will:

• Review the research linking improved sleep parameters and access to nature/green spaces
• List the potential sleep related benefits being in or around nature may create
• Evaluate the categories of benefit related to nature exposure proposed by Markevych: reducing harm, restoring capacities, and building capacities
• Highlight CO2 reduction as a harm reduction method for improving sleep
• Consider tress and canopy exposure as a separate harm reduction pathway
• Explore the role of nature on mental health and its interplay with sleep
• Touch upon the ways in which green spaces can facilitate physical activity and social cohesion
• Look specifically at green space research as it relates to children and teens

Produced by: Maeve Winter

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• The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child

Thanks for listening and sleep well!