Rainn Wilson Wants Us to Connect With Nature

You see, about six years ago, during my daily practice of sitting in my underwear and sending out angry tweets to climate science deniers, I looked at myself in the mirror and decided it was time to be more than a keyboard warrior. Absurdity aside, the event at Highgrove cemented one central idea: To transform our relationship with our planet in this time of climate crisis, we need to value nature as profoundly sacred. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why should I listen to these 1970s hippie-dippy, tree-hugging concepts from the guy who played Dwight on “The Office?” And to that, I draw upon my years of improv training and say, “yes, AND” — we must pass laws to cut emissions, and we must deepen our relationship to the majesty of the Earth. If we want to plug into the wonder of nature, we need to start by actually spending time outside. Rachel Hopman-Droste is one of many scientists who have studied the neurological changes that happen when we have regular contact with the outdoors. She came up with a 20-5-3 rule for spending time in nature. Go outside for 20 minutes, three times a week. For example, a stroll or a time in a park. Spend five hours per month in a semi-wild place, such as a forested park, lake or river. Spend three days once a year off the grid in a cabin, tent or on a boat without a cellphone. Granted, it’s going to take a lot more than camping and dog walks to move our culture’s relationship with nature in the right direction, but it’s a start.