Most of the University Study classes I take at Southeast are not intriguing to me. I usually go to www.ratemyprofessor.com to see which professors have the easiest University Study classes. When I picked my classes in the spring, I thought taking Nature Literacy (UI459) would be a breeze ... no pun intended. Come to find out, I was right. I'll gladly admit that this is one of THE easiest classes I have ever taken. I will also admit, this is one of the most eye-opening classes I have ever been a part of.
Our generation depends on technology to get through our daily lives. Older generations usually talk negatively about how wrapped up we are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterst, Snapchat ... you name the social media site and we know how to work it. But that is not what I am talking about. I am referring to the fact that all of our classes rely on some form of technology. We are asked to write type papers with Times New Roman size 12 font, double spaced lines, and 1 inch margins. We are asked to turn it in to our professors on Moodle or www.turnitin.com. All of our assignments, important documents, PowerPoint lectures, quizzes, and tests are online. We are forced to spend a minimum of three hours a day staring at a screen to complete our homework.
If we all did not use the internet for a week, we would survive socially. The world will not end because we couldn't update what we are doing in our lives on Facebook. Yet, we would fail in our classes. We would miss points from weekly quizzes and assignments. Because of this and what I have learned in my UI459 class, I have discovered the importance of balancing screen time and time in nature.
My Nature Literacy class meets for one hour and fifteen minutes every Tuesday and Thursday on private land about five minutes from campus. We sit outside on logs around a fire pit and talk about how nature helps relieve stress and how to apply nature to our life. After two weeks of meeting for this class, I began to rediscover my love of nature. When I'm outside, there is no pressure and no one is forcing me to make deadlines. There is something about listening to the Mississippi River flowing, birds chirping, and leaves blowing in the breeze is soothing. Spending time outside alone and without technology gives me time to reconnect with myself. It gives me time to reboot and realize what is truly important in life. It is amazing how much 15 minutes in nature can help a person mentally.
Many times, we get wrapped up in studying for exams, meeting deadlines for class or organizations, that we forget to take care of ourselves. College students always feel pressured and stressed, but do not do anything to relieve them of that feeling.
I strongly encourage everyone to get outside for a minimum of 30 minutes everyday without any distractions. This could be done by walking to class instead of shuttling, drinking your Starbucks outside, escaping to Cape Rock, relaxing on the river-walk, or any activity outside that gives you a free feeling. 30 minutes once a day, that's all it takes. I promise you that you will find inner peace and you will feel less stress.
Try it out, invite a friend, and embrace who you truly are not who the world pressures you to be.
