Environmental neuroscientist Marc Berman drops a revelation that could transform how you think about your daily struggles with focus, stress, and mental clarity: your brain has two completely different attention systems, and modern life is systematically destroying one of them. While we scroll through endless feeds believing we’re taking “mental breaks,” we’re actually depleting the very cognitive resource we need most to achieve our goals, control our impulses, and become our best selves. Berman’s groundbreaking research reveals that something as simple as a 20-minute walk in nature can be as effective as ADHD medication for focus, while looking at curved edges in natural environments literally makes people think more about spirituality. You’ll discover why your environment isn’t just influencing your mood—it’s rewiring your brain, shaping your behavior, and determining whether you become the person you’re capable of being.
This 1 Thing Can Rewire Your Brain & Unlock the Focus Your Phone Steals From You
"A 20 minute walk in nature for these kids who had ADHD was about as good as a dose of Ritalin."
And now let’s jump into episode 1824 of The School of Greatness!
Some Questions I Ask:
- “What kind of effect does nature have on our brains? And if we’re not using nature the way it’s meant to be used, how will it hurt our brains?”
- “How many types of attention are there?”
- “What are five key things that you do or you have in your environment every day to maximize your attention for growth in your personal life and professional life?”
- “How does being in nature compare with other kind of common focus boosters, like caffeine, meditation, exercise?”
- “What happens in the brain when we trade an hour in front of our screen for an hour in nature?”
- “If you had a friend or someone that reached out to you who is trying to recover from some type of sickness disease, hospital surgery and you were able to set up the perfect conditions for them to heal using nature, what would you tell them to do?”
- “If someone does live in a concrete jungle with no access to parks or nature, what’s the next best thing for their brain to heal and feel optimized?
In this episode, you will learn:
- Discover the two attention systems in your brain and why one is being hijacked by modern technology, leaving you mentally fatigued and unable to focus on what matters most
- Transform your understanding of “rest” by learning why scrolling social media when tired actually drains you further, while nature exposure restores your cognitive battery
- Break through mental fog and decision fatigue using Berman’s five daily strategies that environmental neuroscientists use to optimize their brains for peak performance
- Uncover shocking research showing that 11 trees per city block provides health benefits equivalent to a $20,000 income increase, and why hospital patients with nature views heal a full day faster
- Harness the power of “softly fascinating” environments that capture your involuntary attention while allowing your directed attention to recover, making you sharper and more resilient
- Plus much more…
Show Notes:
- Marc’s book Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being
- For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960
