Nature offers many physical and mental health benefits. By spending time in green spaces, you can lower your risk of respiratory diseases and improve the quality of the air you breathe. When you expose yourself to sunlight, your circadian rhythm can get more regulated and make you feel more tired at night. Sunlight can also boost your mood and energy levels while taking nature walks can improve your memory and cognitive function. Longevity Live Paid Content.
By being outdoors, you can find motivation to be more physically active, which can have positive effects on your heart health, metabolism, and immune system. Finally, being close to nature can help you restore your attention and focus, as well as reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your self-esteem, happiness, and social interactions.
1. Look Around
Living in a big and hectic city, surrounded by cement and noise, can make you forget the beauty of nature. Take the time to look for a green space where you can reconnect with nature and appreciate everything you see around you. Start by looking up, mainly if this happens on a clear night, and admire the beauty of the stars. You may feel small next to the majestic view of the night sky, but it will be a good reminder of your place within the universe.
During the day, lay on the grass and observe the movement of clouds. Once you are at ground level, enjoy each blade of grass, and find the tiniest insects and the most beautiful flowers. Remember that no matter how small, you still share the same planet.
2. Do Some Yoga
Never take your body for granted. We are part of nature, and yoga helps us honor that fact. Our bodies are more than simple vehicles that help us move around, and when you practice yoga, you will feel like one with your surroundings. If yoga is not your thing, practice meditation while sitting outdoors, or simply do some stretches that feel good while you breathe the fresh air and reconnect with nature.
3. Plant a Garden
There is no need to have a huge property to enjoy some gardening. You can start with a small patch or even use your balcony to plant a small garden if there are no better alternatives. In the end, you might be surprised to discover how much tastier those tomatoes are or how much you enjoy your own batch of basil. Nothing puts us more in touch with the natural cycle of life than witnessing first-hand how nature makes things grow. Add to this the feeling of pride of having achieved this with your own hands.
Photo by Tone Høines on Unsplash
4. Draw or Paint a Natural Scene Around You
You do not need to consider yourself a professional artist to let your artistic juices flow freely. Take a look at a natural scene around you, no matter how small it may be, and start by observing every little detail to decide which part of what you are seeing you wish to capture. You may use colored pencils, watercolors, or oils, or if nothing like that is available, use your cell phone to grasp what has caught your attention.
Look at your creations and enjoy the feeling of the process you have lived through to capture that small part of nature. You do not need to display your creations for all the world to see; you can put them away in a drawer for future enjoyment or simply discard them, knowing that there will always be further opportunities to start over.
5. Take a Hike
Depending on the time of year, you may reconnect with nature by hiking on a nearby trail during the warmer months or going on a cross-country ski adventure if this happens in the winter. More than exercising, view this time away from your daily routine as an opportunity to do something different and appreciate the beauty of the natural things that surround you.
Take the time to do it slowly, and smell the newly-mown grass or the snow that has just fallen; there may be birds around or plants and natural formations that will attract your attention. Even if you do this for only 30 minutes, your mind, and your body will thank you.
6. Go to a Retreat
Sometimes, the hustle and bustle of big city life will not allow you to truly disconnect and get in touch with nature. Yet, your mind and your body may be screaming for you to find an original way to do just that. If you feel you are drowning in too much pollution and noise and there is too little nature around you, booking a getaway to a retreat may just be the answer. By spending some time in a different location closer to nature, you will come back home recharged and rejuvenated.
At the Vajra Jahra retreat center in Costa Rica, you will find the perfect way to connect with nature. You will take yourself off the beaten path while still enjoying deluxe amenities, all this while being fully immersed in the natural beauty around you. For more information and to delve deeper into the offerings of this retreat center, read more here.
By making mindfulness a part of your life, you will become more aware of the beauty that your surroundings have to offer. This will have a positive impact on your body and your mental health, lowering your stress, anxiety, and depression and letting you enjoy life more.
There is no need to wait to start reconnecting with nature. With a step as small as noticing the trees on your way to work and identifying the emotions that this small action makes you feel, you will be doing yourself a great deal of good.
It seems as though modern life has made everyone disconnect from nature. Daily life happens more and more inside buildings, while our bodies are spending increasing portions of time glued to a variety of screens. Take matters into your own hands and find a way to connect with nature that works best for you.
