120 Minutes

By Kylie Hansen

None of us are strangers to the endless cycle of laundry, bills, grocery shopping, and jobs… on and on it goes, each task blending into the next until we are in constant motion moving faster and faster, yet feeling further and further with no clear destination we move faster and faster, taking on more and more with no clear destination in sight.

The world around us is a cacophony of demands, the noise growing louder and louder with every passing day. We try to rise above the noise, to break free from the relentless swirl of life, like a bird caught in a storm we are swept back into the chaos again and again. How do we find our footing, and rise above? Where does that strength to continue come from?

For me, the antidote to this whirlwind is simply stepping outside, sometimes you just need to get some fresh air. Whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, sitting out on the patio, or if I am feeling ambitious, maybe even a hike. After a long stressful day, and my head is spinning, I can clear my mind and regain a sense of peace outside. Nature becomes my reset button, helping me find the strength to rise above the noise.

I make it a priority each week to get up the canyon at least once, a practice made easy by my rowdy lab and my love for hiking. But on days when a longer hike isn’t possible, I’ve found that after staring at a screen for too long, a walk or run through my local park is the perfect remedy to calm my mind, regulate my nervous system, and center myself.

Pondering this question in those quiet moments led me to an article by Jim Robbins, titled “How immersing yourself in nature benefits your health” (2018). Robbins explains that spending 120 minutes in nature each week can significantly reduce cortisol levels, improve mental health, physical health, and mental clarity. Further saying “nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive function.

Robbins is not alone in suggesting that reconnecting with nature can help alleviate the negative health effects of city life. The literature overwhelmingly reports that nature is not only relevant for improving mental health but for fostering creative thinking and reducing chronic disease. Urban planners, mental health professionals, and educators are increasingly recognizing the importance of integrating nature into daily life to combat a growing health crisis. Research supports the idea that modern humans are “wild people” at their core. That we evolved in close interaction with nature, and when disconnected, we suffer various forms of dysfunction.

You too may be wondering how to prioritize time outside moving forward, especially when the weight of daily responsibilities feels overwhelming and getting outside just feels like one more thing on our plate. The good news is, it doesn’t need to be a daunting task. Small, consistent moments each day can add up to big benefits. Just 17 minutes outside each day is enough to reach that 120-minute threshold.

It can be as simple as taking a short walk during lunch, sitting on your porch for a few moments, or enjoying a moment of stillness in your local park. These small acts of connection to nature don’t require big chunks of time - but they can help you regain a sense of calm, clarity, and strength amidst the chaos. By carving out even a little time each day, you can begin to break free from the noise and find the peace you need to rise above the mindless rush of life. See you outside!