The Power of 20 Minutes in Nature
A scientific study out of the University of Michigan found that spending just 20 minutes outside - without your phone or other distractions - a mere three days a week significantly reduces a person’s cortisol stress levels and can ease anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.
Spending time outside, even without heavy physical activity, also has other physical benefits including lower blood pressure, higher vitamin D, and higher levels of focus and concentration. In fact, the effect of nature to improve focus is so strong it has been studied as a method of treating kids with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and asthma.”
Finally, people who habitually spend time outdoors have been shown to be more committed to the environment and more likely to take steps to protect it.
With all these benefits, why does the average American spend 93% of their life indoors? We think it’s time to make a change. And we hope you’ll be a part of it.
The 20 Minute Challenge
20 minutes isn’t a lot, but developing new habits needs discipline and repetition. Join us in committing to set aside 20 minutes every day to spend time outside. Here’s the hard part: You’ve got to leave your devices behind, or have the willpower not to check them during the 20 minute window. To get the full psychological and physical benefits of time spent outside, you need to fully experience it. Something that just can’t happen if you’re checking notifications or scanning websites.
How to take part
You can do this on your own or as part of a community. In the form below, tell us your email, time-zone, and time of day when you want to make the commitment. We’ll send you a calendar invite to block your schedule and mail you a Wanderlust journal to carry with you. If you want, you can share your experiences using the hashtag #20minutewander upon your return (remember, no phones during your time outside!) and we’ll reshare them. For a select few, we’ll even create a custom illustration just for you. Not on social media? You can also email us at [email protected].
