Link to Final Writeup: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k5VkSCniJCZhEPu3JV-58HmN7giJEtTMXtG_-QFpcCs/edit?usp=sharing
Summary:
Attention and working memory improve 20% after even just a 50 minute outdoor walk (CNBC, 2023). In as little as 10-20 minutes of sitting or walking in green spaces, we experience measurable reductions in stress, anger, and anxiety (Meredith et. al., 2020). Proximity to nature significantly correlates with reduced stress markers like salivary cortisol and improved cardiovascular metrics such as heart rate and blood pressure (Bennett et. al., 2018). Daily time outside is one of the most powerful mechanisms for improved health and happiness. Yet, 76% of adults fail to meet outdoor activity guidelines (Bhattacharyya et al., 2024). Busy students, who are not student athletes, find this task equally or more challenging. For our study, we focused on Stanford undergraduates who live on-campus and are not student athletes. We wanted to study how often undergraduates who live in the dorms at an academically challenging college balance work with going outside during the day. We specifically want to focus on undergraduates who live on campus and are not student athletes, as student athletes already find themselves exercising or being outside for long periods of time regularly. The goal of our study was to analyze the existing behaviors of these students and construct an intervention to increase the amount of time students spend outside.
Our proposed intervention nudges students with outdoor activity ideas and encouragement throughout the week. This is sent via text message based upon the student’s actual availability pulled from their calendar. Students can then rate and personalize these messages to improve their efficacy. We chose to send text message nudges to balance ensuring the student sees the notification with not being too disruptive. We give students the ability to choose the tone and frequency of nudges to improve their efficacy and give the student a feeling of ownership over the habit-changing intervention.
