Simple ways to connect with nature
Nature connectedness is a hot topic right now. Many of us recognise that spending extended periods indoors, in front of screens, or constantly rushing around can disconnect us from the natural world. Connecting, or re-connecting with nature, has a wealth of health and wellbeing benefits, both physical and mental. It permits us to tune into nature's natural cycles, slow down, and find joy and awe in the smallest of things.
Connecting with nature happens when our senses are working away in the background processing information. From running our hands through long grass to walking barefoot across a babbling stream, when our bodies interact with nature our senses are awakened and we feel part of something bigger. Nature has a unique capability of tickling all of our senses, giving us opportunities to connect with the natural spaces around us.
“The part of the brain that is responsible for ruminative and negative thoughts – the subgenual prefrontal cortex – has been shown to quieten when we connect with nature, which gives people more space to process their problems.” – Beth Collier, Psychotherapist and founder of the Nature Therapy School
So, how can we connect with nature? We share our six favourite ways to connect with nature.
Focus on the senses
When we stop and focus on one or two senses, we can really connect with nature. Perhaps it’s noticing some butterflies dancing in the wind, smelling the rain on the soil after a storm or listening to birdsong. By tuning into one or two senses we can truly immerse ourselves in our environment and experience the awe of nature.
Take your food outdoors
Or go one further and forage for your food. Did you know that our sense of smell and taste are sharpened when we're outdoors? This means that food can actually taste better. You can take this one step further by foraging for a little food. Foraging forces us to integrate with the natural environment, looking for clues, getting hands-on in the search for edibles. “What’s magical about foraging is it really cultivates this sense that nature provides for us with such awesome abundance if we know how to look for it”[1].
Go for a walk
The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other can help give a sense of progress and purpose. Walking through the seasons allows you to notice how nature is cyclical. No matter what else is going on, the grass will grow high in spring, the trees will fill out in summer and the blackberries will come out in autumn.
And whilst you're walking look up
It’s all too easy to look down and ruminate when our thoughts are full and we’re feeling busy. The simple act of looking up relaxes our shoulders, allows our chest to expand and our field of vision to increase. What’s more, we can take in more of our surroundings, and feel more connected to our space. It's not about how far you can walk it's about how you walk.
Take time to listen
Most of us have learned to live in hectic environments, where our coping strategies include tuning out the sounds of traffic and other manufactured noise and tuning into our headphones. But tuning in to the sounds of nature is a perfect way of connecting with the details of the living world, bringing us into a different rhythm and slowing us down. Over time you might even notice how the sounds of nature change over the seasons.
Take part in nature-based activities
From making sound maps to painting with mud or even tracking the moon, there are a range of nature-based activities that will help you connect with the outdoors through your senses. Find something that fits with your lifestyle and interests, get creative and have fun!
Activities for connecting with nature
Lunar Calendar
Observe and note the different phases of the moon
Mud painting
Mud painting is a rich, sensory experience – the smell of the mud, the texture, the sounds of mixing it and the different subtle shades.
