A recent study reveals that getting out and experiencing culture can slash your risk of depression dramatically. Researchers from Cambridge University found that seeing a show, going to a movie, visiting a museum or engaging in another cultural activity once a month cuts the risk of depression by half.

The study, published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, offers a more unusual and pleasant prescription to beat depression than the usual advice to exercise and eat right. The researchers examined data for 2,000 British adults for 10 years, says Inc., and discovered that when people got out to enjoy a movie, show or museum regularly, they lowered their likelihood of suffering from depression dramatically.

They factored in the financial aspect of being able to afford the time and money for tickets to these cultural events and found that the mental health benefits remained.

“We were very pleasantly surprised by the results,” acknowledged Daisy Fancourt, a researcher and professor of psychobiology and epidemiology. Fancourt acknowledges that most people know about eating a healthy diet and exercising to stave off depression but says there is little information on how cultural activities can boost mental health.

The researchers speculate that the power of these cultural activities lies in the combination of social interaction, creativity, mental stimulation and gentle physical activity they encourage. In the U.K. and Canada, doctors have prescribed trips to museums as a remedy for anxiety.

Whatever the reason, the message is clear. Getting out of the house to experience a cultural event just once a month can cut your risk of depression by half in 2025. And it doesn’t have to blow the budget. A visit to a local art gallery or musical performance may be enough to lift your spirits.