Well, it’s official. According to the latest scientific research, living in an area with a park or a garden has been statistically proven to improve your mental health.

Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School have recently put out a study in Environmental Science & Technology Magazine which tracked over a thousand people for five years–half of these subjects moved to an urban neighborhood with greenery and half moved to an urban neighborhood with no green spaces. The study used a questionnaire which evaluated depression, anxiety, and general thoughts, moods, and feelings.

The results showed that those who moved to areas with parks and gardens had prolonged mental health improvement after they moved, and those who moved to areas without greenery experienced a dip and then a return to normal. The findings match previous research, which has indicated that even spending in green space can relieve stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Urban planners and developers can take note, as the decision to include greenery in local communities could offer long-term benefits, but it’s also important for the rest of us to remember. In the busyness of our everyday lives, it’s important that we stop once every so often to smell the roses, literally.