Blog - Exploring City Health: New York City

Ever wondered how the city you live in affects your overall health and well-being? Every city has different influences on your health. In this series, I’ll explore how different factors shape health in different cities around the world that I have been to. Every other week, I’ll take a closer look at how a specific city impacts the daily lives of its residents and tourists through my own experiences and show the benefits and challenges of that city. As someone who has traveled to nearly 30 countries, I'm excited to share my personal insights and some of my images and videos, to give a more inside and exclusive look at the factors that influence mental health. Today, we’ll explore New York City, The United States.

New York City is one of the most exciting places in the world, but it can also be overwhelming, especially when you first experience it. As someone who lives in New York, I remember visiting the city many times and feeling intimidated. The city was so big and there were so many people walking around always rushing. Many people didn’t care if you were in the way or not, it’s like everything’s always moving.

One thing I noticed about New York is how all the roads are straight. I know that sounds strange, but the streets just keep going, straight for miles. There was no curve to anything. You can be walking on a straight street for blocks and blocks with nothing to change the scenery. I think that can really get to you over time, mentally.

I also realized there’s not a whole lot of greenery around. Central Park is amazing, but other than that, the city can feel like you’re surrounded by buildings with little to no green space to enjoy. It starts to feel cold and empty when you’re just surrounded by all these tall buildings.

Extremely polluted streets at every corner

Another thing I noticed when I got older and started walking around more is how dirty the city can be. I thought it was just something you heard about, but when you see it, it’s a whole different thing. Trash piles up on sidewalks, and it doesn’t always smell great. That adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed.

One specific thing in NYC that messes with your head is the noise from the subway. The trains are super loud and the screeching is non stop. It’s so loud that you can feel it wherever you are. After a while, it starts to get to you and it's hard to relax or even focus when all you hear is that noise all the time. You normally get used to it, but it’s always there.

Living or visiting NYC can be exciting, but there’s definitely consequences. The constant noise, lack of greenery, and the stress of the city can make it harder to recharge. New York doesn’t really offer much of space to take a break. It’s a place of a lot of energy which can be awesome for some, but draining for others.