Need to recharge your brain? Step outside

In our increasingly urbanized world, it turns out that a little green can go a long way toward improving our health, not just that of the planet. Connection to nature is vital to our mental and physical health, scientists say.

That could mean something as simple as a walk in the park or just a tree viewed through a window. It's the refreshing contact with nature and its uncomplicated demands on us. Modern life — commuting, computing, paying taxes — can place a burden on our brains and bodies.