the wanderer
Illustrated card created by Jess Harwood. © Jess Harwood.
You don't need a crowd to feel like you're part of something, but you do want a bit of structure. A track underfoot and some fresh air does something for you that scrolling never quite manages.
Twenty minutes into a walk in a green space is where a 2019 University of Michigan study found the sharpest drop in cortisol, the body's main stress hormone — it keeps easing for the next ten or so, then levels off. Source: Hunter, Gillespie & Chen, 2019, Frontiers in Psychology.
Worth Knowing:
“in those days we were walking through the bush. it was a real little adventure, just even walking to school.”
- ken, 73, from victoria
Here's how to find your own way back outdoors:
National Parks, botanic gardens. Someone else does the planning, you just show up and walk.
Same faces, new track every time. No experience needed.
Bibbulmun Track, Heysen Trail and more scenic walks. For when you want something to work toward.
The research above is general, not advice about you specifically. It's here to show why time in nature is worth taking seriously, not to tell you what your body or mind needs. If you're managing a physical or mental health condition, it's worth checking with your doctor or care team before changing your routine — they know your situation, this page doesn't.