Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

The importance of the Natural Health Service

Spending time outside is vital for our mental state

(iStock) 
issue 09 May 2020

Most people consider going for a walk or a run as a sort of optional leisure activity, something you get round to once you’ve been to the shops. But when the government announced its coronavirus restrictions, there it was in its own category of ‘essential activities’: daily exercise.

Yes, there have been rows about whether sunbathing or sitting on a bench to eat a snack are acceptable, but by and large the message has been clear: we need to get outside to stay well.

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