Students say the Quad helps them relax, destress

By ABI MIDDLETON The Breeze

Birds chirping. Dogs barking. Students laughing.

As the weather warms up, JMU’s Quad is once again becoming a popular spot for students to rest and relax. The Breeze spoke to nine students there, all of them saying being on the Quad helps them in different ways.

National research also suggests spending time outside may contribute to overall improved mental health of students.

According to a 2020 article from the American Psychological Association, spending time in nature has numerous cognitive benefits, such as improved memory, better attentional functioning and cognitive flexibility. Alongside that, a 2019 article from Science Advances reported there’s a strong correlation between nature experience and happiness, as well as reductions in stress. see QUAD, page 13

In a 2020 research examination led by an interdisciplinary team at Cornell University, researchers found that as little as 10 minutes a day — and ideally, 10-50 minutes — in a natural setting helps increase happiness and reduce the effects of stress in collegeage individuals. Gen Meredith, the lead author, said in the Cornell article that it “doesn’t take much time for the positive benefits to kick in,” and that students should be getting time in nature every day, or at least a few times a week.