UNH Research

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

Twenty minutes, three times a week. That's the dose of nature Lindsey Pawlowski has been studying.

Lindsey, a direct entry master of nursing student at UNH, spent her year researching whether short, regular walks in the woods can ease anxiety and depression and help people feel more connected to their community.

Participants spent 20 minutes at a time in UNH's College Woods. Early results suggest that small dose may be enough to make a real difference.

Her curiosity about this topic has roots in her own life. She calls herself an avid outdoorswoman who has felt firsthand how a walk in the woods can help calm her down.

Additionally, she once worked with an emergency department physician who, as part of his discharge process, would recommend patients spend time in the sun, citing its benefits for overall wellness. It was a good instinct, she said, but one that needed more supporting evidence. That gap is part of what pushed her to help build something more concrete: an actual, evidence-based recommendation, down to the minutes, that providers could prescribe their patients.

Thanks for sharing a peek at your work with us, Lindsey! We're so proud of this research and excited to see the impact you make in your nursing career. 🐾

UNH Research UNH College of Health and Human Services

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