Could 17 minutes a day improve your health?

Spending just 17 minutes outdoors each day could make a measurable difference to health and wellbeing, according to new research from Redrow. The housebuilder’s inaugural Great Places report explores how communities can be designed to encourage healthier, more connected lifestyles, with access to nature emerging as a key priority for homeowners. The research highlights evidence suggesting that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with a greater likelihood of reporting good overall health and wellbeing.

Superintendent Pharmacist Ana Caroline Goncalves, at Pharmica, says: “Spending at least 120 minutes per week in nature is associated with a higher likelihood of reporting good overall health and wellbeing.” Greater exposure to green space has also been linked to a range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as lower levels of stress and high blood pressure. Redrow’s report found strong demand for access to nature and local facilities. Nine in 10 homeowners (90%) said they would like to live near nature-rich green spaces, while 84% said easy access to local amenities was important. Kevin Parker, Group Head of Masterplanning at Redrow, says: “Access to outdoor space plays an important role in supporting everyday health and wellbeing. When green space is easy to reach and well connected, it becomes simpler for people to step outside regularly, even in short bursts.”

Work keeping millions indoors
Despite the potential benefits, finding time to get outside remains a challenge for millions of people. More than half of Brits (53%) surveyed by Redrow said work was a key barrier to spending time outdoors. The additional survey questioned 500 people about their habits and attitudes towards spending time outside. With almost two in five (37%) Brits working from home at least some of the time, Redrow estimates that around 12.6m people could be struggling to build outdoor time into their routines. For people working from home, the loss of a daily commute can also remove a natural opportunity to walk, move and mentally switch between work and personal life.

Goncalves says: “Outdoor time can help replace some of the movement and mental transition that would usually come from commuting. One useful approach is to create a “fake commute”, such as a short walk before starting work or after finishing for the day. This can help mark the boundary between work time and personal time. “It can also help to schedule outdoor breaks in the same way as meetings. For example, people could take a ten-minute walk after their first block of work, eat lunch away from their desk or take suitable phone calls outside.”

Small changes could make outdoor time easier
For others, the challenge is not a lack of opportunity but motivation. Almost three in 10 homeowners (29%) said they struggle to prioritise spending time outdoors. Building a new routine can take time. Research suggests it can take an average of 106 to 154 days to form a new habit, meaning smaller changes that can be repeated regularly may be easier to maintain than ambitious goals. Goncalves says: “Spending time outdoors is usually easier to maintain when it is attached to something people already do, rather than treated as another separate health task. For example, stepping outside after a morning coffee, walking after lunch, taking one phone call outdoors or doing a short walk after logging off work can all make the habit feel more natural. “The key is to make these steps small, actionable and repeatable. Many people struggle when they set goals that are too ambitious, such as planning long walks every day. A ten-minute routine that happens consistently is often more realistic than a larger plan that quickly becomes difficult to maintain.”

The growing popularity of outdoor-focused social media trends could also encourage people to spend more time outside. Colour walks, intuitive walks and the traditional Italian evening stroll known as the ‘passeggiata’ have all gained attention online, often with an emphasis on mindfulness and being present. Goncalves says: “Social media trends encouraging people to spend more time outdoors are a welcome shift. The underlying premise, that regular exposure to green space is associated with better physical and mental well-being, is supported by a growing body of research. “These outdoor wellness trends can help people to build more movement, daylight exposure and time away from screens into their daily routine. The key is to make the habit realistic and safe. A colour walk, a short garden routine, an intuitive walk or a visit to a local park can all be valuable, although should adapt these trends to their own needs rather than just following them.”

Designing healthier communities
Redrow’s findings form part of its new Great Places report, which sets out eight principles for creating healthier and more connected communities. The report argues that the design and accessibility of outdoor spaces can play an important role in making healthier habits easier to adopt. Rather than relying solely on individual motivation, communities with accessible green spaces, walking routes and local amenities can make it more convenient for people to incorporate movement and time outdoors into everyday life. Parker concludes: “Our research reinforces the role that access to green space and well-connected outdoor environments can play in everyday life. By embedding these principles into how places are designed, it becomes easier for people to incorporate regular time outdoors into their routines.”

For those struggling to find time for nature, the message is relatively simple: it does not necessarily require hours-long walks or major lifestyle changes. A short walk before work, lunch outside or a few minutes in a local green space could all help build more outdoor time into the day.