Strengthen Your Connection to Nature: 5 Activities to Try Today
Modern day life is full of networks and connections.
Networking with existing or potential colleagues. Connecting to wifi at your favorite cafe. Engaging on a digital social network. Finally getting your work-from-home laptop to connect with your employer’s shared network . . .
And the list goes on and on.
Unfortunately, for most modern-day humans it is becoming increasingly difficult to find time to connect to the most important network of all: nature.
Modern day life is full of networks and connections.
Networking with existing or potential colleagues. Connecting to wifi at your favorite cafe. Engaging on a digital social network. Finally getting your work-from-home laptop to connect with your employer’s shared network . . .
And the list goes on and on.
Unfortunately, for most modern-day humans it is becoming increasingly difficult to find time to connect to the most important network of all: nature.
Connecting to nature benefits our mental and physical health immensely. We are intrinsically linked to the planet, and require a connection with nature for optimal health. This is a fact that many of us understand and agree upon. Of course, agreeing and understanding does not quite carve out time in our busy modern day schedules for nature. But what if the connection only needed 10 minutes or even less? Below you’ll find 5 activities that you can complete in 10 minutes or less (or more if you choose!) to strengthen your connection to nature:
Connecting to nature benefits our mental and physical health immensely. We are intrinsically linked to the planet, and require a connection with nature for optimal health. This is a fact that many of us understand and agree upon. Of course, agreeing and understanding does not quite carve out time in our busy modern day schedules for nature. But what if the connection only needed 10 minutes or even less? Below you’ll find 5 activities that you can complete in 10 minutes or less (or more if you choose!) to strengthen your connection to nature:
Courtney Jackson
1. TAKE A WALK
Walks in nature have a direct positive impact on your physical and mental health, so why not pepper in a few 10 minute walks around your neighborhood or job site this week? Make it even more enjoyable by sharing it with a companion: spouse, child, co-worker or furry friend. Try admiring the sounds while you’re out; birds chirping overhead or how the wind makes music with nearby structures.
2. GO BAREFOOT
This could be anything from walking out into your backyard with no shoes or stopping by the beach on your way home from work to bury your toes in the sand. It could even be going out onto your apartment balcony with no shoes to feel the sun on your toes. However you choose to go barefoot, be sure to soak in the feeling of your feet exposed to nature’s elements. There is something very special about connecting your bare soles to the Earth.
3. MEDITATE OUTDOORS
If you’re new to meditation, this one is still for you! Simple concentrated breathing outside qualifies as “meditating outdoors”. Whether it be on your back porch, park bench, or parked in the driveway with your car windows rolled down – give it a shot. Relax your body. Close your eyes. Simply breathe. Allow thoughts to come and go. Direct your attention to your breathing and enjoying the sensations of nature around you.
4. CHOOSE OUTDOOR SEATING
Instead of having your meal, cocktail or coffee inside, ask the waiter about their outdoor seating options. Enjoy the ambience of nature sounds as they mix with your local urban sounds. People chatting, seagulls squawking, cars zooming, and breezes whooshing by – you’ll find it to be quite the symphony. An equally pleasing, and perhaps more intimate, alternative would be to enjoy a meal prepared at home outdoors. Take your dinner into the yard or breakfast onto the balcony. Snacks are welcome too! Enjoy looking out at the nature that surrounds your home, give it and your meal gratitude.
5. WELCOME THE SUNRISE OR SUNSET
Starting or ending your day with an experience with nature is a beautiful privilege. If possible, I encourage you to welcome the sunrise before heading into your day or the sunset before ushering in your nightly routine. Both are opportunities to create a deep connection to nature.
Courtney Jackson
Happy connecting.
Courtney Jackson is part of the Mutual Reawakening team. She’s also a certified holistic nutritionist, group exercise instructor, and lifestyle coach based in Muskegon, Michigan. Passionate about the overall well-being of humans and the planet, she strives to connect individuals and communities to natural resources that enhance their quality of life.
We are especially grateful to Nova Institute for Health of People Places and Planet for the visionary, scholarly and material support that makes this project possible.