By The Editorial Board
After a seemingly never-ending summer, fall weather has finally arrived in Waco. Unfortunately, as busy college students, we often fail to make time to enjoy it.
Here in Waco, the first half of the semester has been warm, to say the least. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this summer was the warmest on record for the contiguous United States.
This summer, The New York Times also created the “Touch Grass Challenge” to encourage people to put down their phones and engage with the real world. The challenge includes four steps, the first of which was merely spending 20 minutes outside without bringing a phone or turning it off.
Jancee Dunn, author of the piece, references a 2019 study that found that at least 120 minutes a week spent in nature was associated with good health and well-being. As Dunn calculates it, that is about 17 minutes a day, hence the 20-minute recommendation.
These good health outcomes are apparent. According to the National Park Service, “walking in nature reduces inflammation and boosts your immune system.” Additionally, a study found that living in areas with more green space, like park areas with grass or trees, was associated with lower rates of mortality related to cancer and respiratory issues.
The benefits of spending time in nature also go beyond health. According to a 2019 study published by the Association for Psychological Science, nature is shown to improve “working memory, cognitive-flexibility and attentional-control tasks.”
The National Park Service also notes that community members who are closer to nature will be emotionally closer with one another, and that five minutes in nature “improves mood, self-esteem and relaxation” and, when experienced frequently, reduces anxiety and depression.
And yet, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend, on average, about 90% of their time indoors.
This time indoors should be spent in greater moderation. The artificial light we are exposed to indoors and on our devices is disrupting our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, according to a PubMed Central article.
Another PubMed Central article notes that many computer users experience low back pain. As college students, we spend a lot of time indoors on our computers. To mitigate these negative effects and pick up some positive ones, going outdoors is a great option.
Fortunately, our campus, according to several rankings, is beautiful. Baylor has sprawling green grass patches, carefully planned landscaping and over 3,000 trees.
Unfortunately, we are busy college students. Dunn’s 20-minute recommendation can help with this, but intentionality is required. To commit to 20 minutes outside a day, make specific, doable changes to your routine.
Instead of heading straight to Moody between classes with your head buried in your phone, take a slow stroll across campus or find a bench and sit for a while. Instead of hunching over your study materials in a dining hall, take your lunch outside.
If you have a bit of extra time and the weather is feeling particularly nice, the possibilities are endless. String up a hammock on Fountain Mall, toss a ball outside your residence or head to the Baylor Marina and paddle around. Sit with the Draper cats, play some pickleball or lie on one of the rocks at the Memorial to Enslaved Persons and stare up at the sky.
Waco also has many off-campus places to visit with friends. Cameron Park, Carleen Bright Arboretum and the Lake Waco Wetlands are all great natural areas to explore.
And if you have no time for anything else, just take 20 minutes today and sit outdoors. If you have a porch or a balcony at home, sit there. If you do not, find a bench on campus and sit there for a bit before you head home. Your mind, mood and lungs will thank you.
