Doctor recommends outdoor time to combat effects of excessive screen time

GREENVILLE, S.C. (InvestigateTV) — Being online might make people feel more connected to family and friends, but evidence suggests it could hurt their health.

A 2025 survey of 2,000 adults found the typical American spends more than 10 hours per day on the internet.

Excessive screen time can have physical consequences, including eye and neck strain and poor posture. Studies also link it to psychological issues such as anxiety and depression.

Doctor recommends more time in nature

To improve mental health, one doctor believes people should make an effort to go outside.

“Humans, we really didn’t evolve to live in these big, structured communities with all the traffic and lights and noise. Our genetic roots are in the outdoors and surroundings,” Dr. Nathanial Mann, an emergency room physician at Prisma Health, said.

Mann, who also works as a wilderness medicine physician, spent two years traveling the world practicing medicine in remote environments and treating altitude illness, diving injuries and outdoor sports-related injuries.

“I absolutely think we should,” Mann said when asked if people should be prescribed to spend more time outside, like medicine.

Health benefits of outdoor time

Mann said literature backs up multiple benefits. Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D and has been linked to lower cancer rates, decreased infections and other medical problems related to sun exposure.

Exercising outside can have physical benefits, but mental health may benefit most.

Research shows outdoor time can help ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD, stress, autism and other conditions.

“I think these days we see so much time on screens. People are on their phones, children are on tablets all the time, TV, these things, and there are direct links to anxiety and other psychological conditions as a result,” Mann said.

Families embrace outdoor activities

The Tomlinson family tries to get outside every day. They are taking part in the SC7 Expedition, a statewide trek in South Carolina that encourages people to get outside and conserve land.

“Nature makes me feel happy and excited when I always get around it because it makes me feel home, like I’m at home,” Gibbs Tomlinson said.

“Getting to watch her see the sun come through the trees and being able to put a shadow on a leaf, the fish glistening in the creek, it just makes you feel wholesome,” Brent Tomlinson said.

Mann said outdoor time doesn’t require extensive hiking. Even 10 or 15 minutes outdoors working in a garden, mowing a lawn or spending time on a back porch can yield significant benefits, based on literature and data.

See the full story by Kari Beal.

Nonprofit connects students with nature

“Gateway to the Great Outdoors” partners with schools in Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri, to offer camping experiences. The organization has participated in studies on the health benefits of time in nature.

One study found 97 percent of students who participated reported improvements in their physical, mental and emotional health.

“It just lets you like figure out like many different things that you haven’t usually done,” one student said.

Learn more about the program here.