Living in a city is different from our how our ancestors lived, who were in a more nature-filled environment. Only 3 percent of the world’s population lived in cities back in 1800, compared to over 50 percent today. As researchers of a 2019 study published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine state, our attention system was “designed for interacting with nature.”
There’s no doubt there are pros and cons to city living. You step outside, and you’re closer to shops and entertainment, but there’s also an abundance of people, cars, lights, noise, and buildings.
Whether by choice or not, by 2050, it’s estimated about 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in cities. If this is the case, the abundance of city living is about to get even louder. So, does city living impact your mental health and what can be done about it?
