Trust me, 20 minutes is enough.

Have you heard of the "20-minute park effect" that has recently taken the Internet by storm? Recently, the number of posts sharing topics such as "I've tried it, the 20-minute park effect is real" on social platforms has increased, and it has become popular among young people, and the discussion has also been rising.

Screenshot of topic sharing post source: Weibo

It is said that just spending 20 minutes leisurely in the park can refresh your mind and change your mood from gloomy to sunny, just like fast charging. Is it really that magical?

What is the “20-minute park effect”?

The "20-minute park effect" originated from a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, which pointed out that spending a short time outdoors every day can make people feel happier. Even if they don't exercise, just staying in the park or other places where they can feel the natural atmosphere for 20 minutes a day can significantly reduce stress.

Tourists enjoy the flowers and take photos at Wangjing Begonia Stream in Beijing

Source: People's Daily Commentary

The so-called parks include but are not limited to large parks in the city, green spaces near work parks and office buildings, small green spaces in streets and communities, etc. Different from the grand feeling of visiting parks on holidays, "20 Minutes in the Park" focuses on getting close to nature, casual walks within easy reach, small happiness, and a sense of relaxation.

Why a park?

After being in a cage for a long time, I can finally return to nature.

"Working people" have long been living in an environment with high work pressure and a fast pace of life, from morning to night, day after day. For people, briefly escaping from the "concrete jungle" and "cubes" is a basic need. But in reality, going into nature, feeling nature, and relaxing the body and mind has become a luxury.

Temple of Heaven ParkSource: Beijing Tourism

At this time, parks appeared in the public's vision. Different from the noise and busyness of urban buildings and city streets, the green space, streams and unobstructed sky in the park can provide us with a rare "urban forest" "Peach Blossom Spring". At the same time, compared with the mountains and countryside, urban parks have a very high "accessibility" . There is no need to travel through mountains and rivers, and it is not very time-consuming and laborious. It is really cost-effective and friendly to workers.

Chaoyang Park Source: Chaoyang, Beijing

At the same time, the park also has a "social attribute" . In this small world of the park, a feeling of relaxation and comfort sweeps over, and people will more easily enter a state of emptying their minds, becoming more relaxed and natural, breaking down social barriers, communicating naturally and friendly with others, and establishing emotional connections, which is also conducive to clearing negative emotions, so that positive emotions naturally have room to grow and provide us with inner energy.

It must be a park?

Of course, in addition to going to the park to enjoy our 20 minutes, there are many other low-cost ways to quickly charge:

0 1Look up at the sky!

Modern people are in a hurry. Have you ever tried to stop your hurried steps on the road and shift your sight from the mobile phone in front of you to the sky above your head? Look up at the sky. Looking at the sky is also a good way to quickly recharge your spirit!

Beijing sunset Source: Beijing News

Our days are almost unchanging, but the sky is constantly changing. Every time we look up, we are surprised to find that the sky has refreshed its "skin", bringing us full of expectations and pleasure.

02Hug the big tree!

Go out of the house, pick a tree that you like, open your arms, hug it, and feel it quietly. "Hugging a tree" can relieve anxiety and decompression, and can make people regain happiness and relax themselves. Studies have found that taking a little time every day to give a tree a deep hug can indeed reduce stress, enhance happiness, improve mood, and enhance immunity to a certain extent.

Young people hugging a tree Source: Sanlian Life Weekly

Hugging a tree is good, but don't be blind! When hugging a tree, please do not damage the green plants . The bumps on the trunk and the insects lying on the bark may cause harm to us when we "hug a tree". Before "hugging a tree", be sure to observe the health, hygiene and safety of the tree. Please do not "hug a tree" during thunderstorms .

03Do something else!

If you like to get your hands dirty, you might as well try some hands-on activities such as plaster dolls, pottery DIY, and tutu blankets, or try to assemble a small cabinet.

As long as it is different from your daily work, has a different atmosphere and a different model, you can try it, break out of the stress circle and create your own 20-minute comfort zone.

In short, be bold and try to do different things in different environments to bring new experiences to your body and mind.