Connecting with nature
A while back, I wrote a post on why we need nature, reviewing the science behind the powerful and positive impact being in nature has on our systems — and the negative impact of a lack of exposure to nature has. These negative impacts are so notable that the phrase “nature deficit disorder” was even coined to describe what happens when we are deprived of nature.
But today, I’d like to talk about some simple ways we can reconnect with nature. Perhaps reconnect is not the right term, since we are a part of nature. So, in reality, we are always connected with nature. Maybe the better way to say this would be to reconnect with the nature within us.
Too often (and this is true in many areas of life), we overcomplicate things. We will start eating healthy after we get all the right cookware, containers, and books — and after we get all the ingredients we could ever need — maybe once we have attended a workshop on eating healthy. Instead of all that, though, we could just buy 2 or 3 more servings of vegetables than usual the next time we go shopping. Or simply eat an additional serving of leafy greens at our next meal. Simple!
The same goes for getting out into nature. We may think this has to involve a multi-day trip out into the wilderness. And, though, that is wonderful and highly recommended — for most of us, it doesn’t allow us regular connection to the nature within us.
What does? Noticing the weather. Looking up at the clouds and the trees. Listening for the birds. Watching the sunset. Gazing at the moon and the stars.
Pets can also be a sweet reintroduction to the nature within us all, as watching and interacting with them reconnects us with our own instincts and presence. They are captivated by the outside world, by the animal world, with chasing squirrels and swatting at flies.
The message here is — let’s not overcomplicate things.
Yes, plan that backpacking trip, but also start going outside for a few minutes in the morning right after you awaken and at night right before you fall asleep. Listen for the animals and insects around you, notice the sky, the light, the dark. Feel the temperature of the air on your skin and how it changes throughout the year. Take in the seasons. Notice the different birds that disappear and reappear at different times of the year. There are so many everyday ways we can stay connected to the part we play in nature and its (and our own) cycles.
It might take a few shifts, but soon, you may notice you are feeling more refreshed, grounded, and yes — even calm. That’s the effect nature has on us. One that is definitely worth reconnecting with.