Integrate spending time outside into your daily routine, regardless of the specific activity, to foster personal wellness and genuine joy. The most crucial aspect is to build a consistent habit and rhythm of connecting with nature.
Make a conscious effort to be outdoors daily, even when the weather is unpleasant, because ’there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.’ This practice is especially important in winter to combat seasonal affective disorder and maintain energy levels.
Focus on engaging with the nature that is easily accessible to you on a regular basis, such as local parks or your neighborhood. Starting where you are and utilizing what you have makes it easier to build a consistent habit.
Challenge yourself to be in your own thoughts while outside, tuning into your senses and the environment without distractions. This can be achieved through walking meditation, focusing on the raw data of your body moving, air on your skin, and sounds around you.
Aim to put away your phone and other screens during some of your outdoor time, as they can create a barrier to fully experiencing nature. While screens can enhance the experience at times, intentionally disconnecting allows for a deeper connection.
If lack of time is an obstacle, integrate outdoor activity with other responsibilities, such as taking calls or holding ‘walk and talk’ meetings outside. This ensures you still receive benefits like physical activity, fresh air, and daylight, even if you’re multitasking.
Incorporate non-competitive physical activities, like brisk walks a few times a week, into your routine. This can significantly reduce the risk of serious diseases and contribute to overall health without needing intense exercise.
Seek natural daylight exposure, especially in the morning or during the strongest light of the day, for at least half an hour. This helps regulate your circadian rhythms, which are crucial for hormone levels, alertness, sleepiness, and can boost productivity.
Spend time outdoors in the sun to facilitate vitamin D production, which is essential for your immune system and numerous bodily processes. While respecting sun safety, remember that adequate sun exposure is vital for health.
Consider submerging yourself in cold water, even by cutting a hole in ice during winter, to boost your immune system and resilience to stress. This practice can also improve general wellness, circulation, and alleviate fatigue or pain, but consult a physician if you have heart issues.
If outdoor cold plunging isn’t accessible, you can achieve similar benefits by taking cold showers for a few minutes or filling a bathtub with ice water. This provides a shock to the system that triggers beneficial physiological responses.
Make an affirmative decision to take walks in the rain to experience nature in a unique way and discover things you wouldn’t otherwise see. The air is cleaner when it rains, and the scent of petrichor (rain on dry earth) offers a distinct sensory experience.
Engage in camping to truly escape noise, crowds, and technology, and to experience wilder places. It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with yourself and family, fostering teamwork and bonding by focusing on basic needs and simple living.
Develop fundamental survival skills such as making fire, handling a knife, finding shelter, and navigating, often learned through camping. These skills, though seemingly extreme, are valuable for self-confidence and preparedness for natural disasters or other emergencies.
Shift your mindset to recognize nature as something all around you, including weather, trees, and birds in urban environments. This expanded view helps you notice and appreciate nature in your everyday life, making connection more frequent and accessible.
Adopt a perspective that sees humans as an integral part of nature, rather than separate from it. This mindset is crucial for fostering a deeper connection and realizing the interdependence between human well-being and environmental protection.
When physical outdoor access is limited, connect with nature through indirect means, such as listening to nature-themed radio shows or watching slow TV programs featuring natural landscapes and wildlife. This can provide a sense of connection to the outer world even when indoors.