The Mark Nolan Show

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Live Happier With The 20-5-3 Rule

We all know that 2020 was a grueling year. Many of us have been cooped up for too long. Research shows that Americans actually spend 92% of their time inside. Being outside comes with many positive benefits for our mental and physical health.

Rachel Hopman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Northeastern University, suggests the Nature Pyramid. We all learned about the food pyramid in school and the nature pyramid is set up in a similar way. The "20-5-3" rule, or nature pyramid, recommends the amount of time you should be spending outdoors to reduce your stress and boost your overall happiness.

Just like in the food pyramid, the bottom is what you need to be doing the most. You should spend 20 minutes outside in nature three times a week. That means put your phone away and revel in the beauty of being outside. This recent study shows that people who used their phones while being outside or on a walk did not benefit from its effects. A 20 minute walk can boost memory, improve cognition and feelings of well-being.

Broken down, per month, you should be spending 5 hours a month outside in semi-wild nature. Research from Finland shows that going to wilder spots seems to have more benefits. For instance, going to a state park can provide city dwellers with feelings of being more relaxed and less stressed.

The top of the pyramid, 3 days. You should be spending 3 days out in nature throughout the year. Try renting a cabin or camping in the woods to spend some time off the grid. This nature time can actually boost creativity and problem solving and relieve burnout.

Read the full article for yourself at MensHealth.com


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