You may not have heard of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), but they want you to get outside.
The USGBC is asking everybody to spend 30 minutes outside in nature for the 30 days in June, hence the 30×30 challenge. That can’t be hard, right? Just 30 minutes of your day outside? You can take the dog for a walk, read in the shade of a tree, spend time in the garden, explore a new walking path, take the kids to a park or admire the sights, sounds and smells from anyplace-just get outside.
You may not have heard of the USGBC, but you’ve probably heard of LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification for buildings, which is the credentialing the USGBC provides for building construction. Here, we are covered by the USGBC Nebraska Flatwater Chapter.
See a video on the challenge here.
The USGBC understands that the built environment is important, but “envision buildings and communities that will regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation.” Essentially, the built environment needs to work with nature, not against or by dominating it. Doing so negatively affects our health and overall well-being.
Benefits of the 30×30 Challenge to you include:
- Decreased stress;
- Exercise;
- Strengthening relationships;
- Greater productivity, at home and/or work;
- Increased satisfaction;
- Improved memory, problem solving, creativity, and attention span; and
- Building community/camaraderie among neighbors.
You can do this before work, during your lunch or break, or after work. Don’t forget that some of your favorite places are different in the dark, and that’s worth exploring too.
After your 30 days are up, take stock in how you feel (and for bonus points, keep a journal along the way to help). What benefits have you observed in your own life? Do you take a walk at lunch and find that you get more done in the afternoon? Did you have more/deeper conversations with your kids? Did your overall stress decrease? Maybe you lost a few pounds? Or your dog is destroying less things in your house?
Whatever it is, everybody will benefit from the 30×30 challenge. So what are you waiting for?