How a Nature Fix Can Boost Your Mood With Florence Williams, The Nature Fix

Florence William’s career as a journalist, author, podcaster, and reporter has frequently focused on the environment, health and science. On this episode of Time4Coffee, Florence discusses the health benefits of spending more time in the great outdoors, and how just one hour a week in nature can heighten your mood, improve your health, and ultimately make your life much better. She has gleaned these insights from her time investigating outdoor health therapies around the world including in Japan and Finland.  All of this is documented in most recent, of two bestselling books, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. A graduate of Yale University, Florence works as a freelance writer for publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Outside Magazine, and National Geographic. She joins us on this interview from a cozy office ‘shed’ in her urban backyard, in Washington, D.C., where she is able to get a nature fix every day! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE: How the Japanese use forest therapy trails, also known as forest bathing, and what you can learn from them Why doctors are starting to issue “nature prescriptions” What is the urban health penalty How nature and the science of ‘awe’ can boost your creativity What Florence means when she says “ADHD is the fuel for adventures” What are the websites and places where you can learn how and where to connect with nature: they include REI and Outdoor Afro and Outdoor Asian