Being "outdoorsy" can stir up images of big beautiful national parks, snowy slopes or lush, green forests. But smaller moments in nature, like walking my dog around the neighbourhood or even listening to rain sounds playlist while falling asleep, have been just as valuable — and don't require the time, money or physical mobility of a big trip.

Nature has enormous emotional and cognitive benefits on people "including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even upticks in empathy and cooperation.

• Getting your daily dose of nature is vital to your well-being.
• Getting your daily dose of nature is vital to your well-being, says Ming Kuo, who runs the Landscape and Human Health Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
• Nature helps our mental muscles relax and recover, and our immune systems need it, too.