Issue #161: Why You've Got To Get Outside
Good morning. It’s Monday, April 3rd. Don’t forget to vote for the National Champion of our Road to Longevity. Winner will be announced tomorrow!
Today’s Quick Win
Did you miss any of our issues on SCIENCE last week? Catch up on Issues #156 - #160 here.
This week we're switching gears and talking about ENVIRONMENT, specifically Nature.
From the Lab: We’re Meant to Be Outside
Speed Read: Painful Yoga is Good
Monday Q: Time Outside?
“Keep close to nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”
The amount of time we spend indoors (87%) and in our cars (6%). If you’re 45 - then you’ve spent 42 years indoors or in cars. So basically we’re never really outside. (Nature)
From the Lab
It’s incredible to think of the time we spend indoors.
For 250,000 years humans spent nearly every waking hour outside or in semi-permanent shelters.
Things sure have changed (see Stat of the Day).
Don’t get me wrong - I’m not going backwards to life before indoor plumbing and being able to visit my friends and family thousands of miles away.
But we’ve really gotten away from nature - and instead littered ourselves with noise and air pollution.
We all instinctively know that we feel better after getting outside. Just look at the difference in how we interact in cars (middle finger) vs. on the hiking trail (mostly a friendly hello - except there’s always that one person).
I mean - who ever felt worse after going on a hike? (Cue up everyone talking about being too hot, dehydrated, getting blisters in their shoes, running into a rattlesnake).
But seriously, just walking along a trail immersed in green and vibrant colors makes you come alive. It takes us out of our daily stress and brings a sense of real peace.
Well it’s not just a feeling - it really is good for our health. A study of over 100,000 nurses found a 12% lower non accidental mortality among those with most “green space” in a 250-meter radius of their home address.
The benefits include enhanced immune system, reduced anxiety, and even better eyesight (giving your eyes a break from the screen to truly relax and just look into the vast open area).
And it’s not just our health - but also our happiness. We completely underestimate how happy we are outdoors - even working outside doesn’t seem so bad, right?
This week we’re going to talk about all the ways to get outside - at least 120 minutes (2 hours) every single week.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
NatureDose is a free app to help you set a weekly nature goal and track your progress. It’s actually the anti-app. It uses GPS and machine learning to track your time outside and give you that extra boost to actually enjoy nature.
On par with diet, exercise, or adequate sleep, making nature exposure an essential part of your lifestyle is one of the best choices you can make for your health. Check out NatureDose.
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Pain is Good For Us: It’s hard to remember this, but the right kind of stressors help to destroy weak cells, muscle fibers, etc. and help build up stronger ones. That’s why we work out, why we suggest cold therapy, and why you should shoot for pain in yoga! (Outside)
Obsess Much?: Obsession can drive us to achieve goals. But what causes us to become obsessed? And when does it go too far? (Learn more)
Two Turntables and a Microphone: Bottles and cans (just clap your hands). Or is it bottles or cans - which is better for preserving your beer’s flavor? As it turns out with so much, it depends - mainly on what you’re drinking. (Big Think)
Monday Q
How much time do you spend outside and in nature?
Product Recs
Impossible - trouble sleeping? This is a combination of magnesium and l-theanine powder (with no junk) to help you get and stay asleep. Click HERE.
RiseWell - mineral toothpaste powered by Hydroxyapatite creating a formula that is clean, safe and incredibly effective at strengthening, remineralizing and protecting the teeth. Click HERE.
Thanks for joining us today!
Check out the latest workout videos on our YouTube channel
Got feedback? Tell us what you think at team@thrive25.com
Want this direct to your inbox? Sign up here
Why Thrive25
We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
Sign up for free:
The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.