In their 2018 study, Pasanen et al. explore how routine physical activity in urban green spaces supports psychological restoration and well-being, arguing that the restorative potential of nature is not limited to extraordinary or isolated experiences, but embedded in everyday spatial practices; by analysing survey data and field observations in Finnish urban settings, the study reveals that regular engagement in nature-based activities—such as walking, cycling, or simply being outdoors—enhances emotional states, attention recovery, and subjective vitality, particularly when these environments are perceived as safe, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible; the authors draw from Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Recovery Theory (SRT) to explain the mechanisms by which natural settings promote recovery from cognitive fatigue and emotional stress, highlighting key features such as “being away”, fascination, and compatibility; notably, the study emphasizes that the perceived quality of green spaces—including biodiversity, cleanliness, and sensory richness—modulates their restorative efficacy, and that habitual exposure is more significant than occasional immersion in producing lasting benefits; Pasanen et al. also consider individual differences, such as nature connectedness, and suggest that interventions to promote health and sustainability should focus on integrating green infrastructure into everyday environments, reducing structural barriers, and encouraging routines that reconnect individuals with nature; thus, urban nature becomes not only a setting for movement, but a source of emotional regulation and existential coherence in daily life.
