“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” –Henry David Thoreau
You don’t have to go cliff jumping or on a week-long backpacking journey to experience the benefits of nature. There are small things you can do on a daily basis to get outside and recharge in small doses. Here are 6 ways to experience the beauty that is the natural world.
6 Ways to Experience Nature
Get a Pet
“Nature” is all living things, not just trees and bushes. Having a furry friend is one of the best ways to form a connection to the natural world. It will make you more energetic, caring and empathetic. All creatures add energy and life to your home, from frogs to dogs, fish to felines.
Watch the Sunset
When you wake up in the morning, look up what time sunset is happening in your city. If you plan to watch it at the end of your day, you’ll be able to look forward to it and learn to make more time for beautiful things.
Watch the Sunrise
For the early birds like me, sunrise is even more of an amazing experience than watching sunset. Just as easy as timing sunset, waking before sunrise has all kinds of benefits, from adding an extra hour or two of your day to a feeling of peace and quiet before the rest of the world wakes up.
Bring the Outdoors, Indoors
Bring nature inside your home! Potted plants are easy to take care of and they still give you benefits like air purification and increased productivity.
Research Local Flora and Fauna
Take a quick hop online and research the local and easily recognizable birds or plants in your area. Next time you’re outside, try and see how many you can identify. If you’re feeling really adventurous, foraging is a great way to get extra in touch with your environment.
Look at the Stars
The stars make us feel recharged and at peace yet salient of our mortality and full of questions all at once. Viewing the stars can be as easy as opening your bedroom curtains at night and letting the moonlight shine into your room. Try and see how many constellations you can identify and watch them change with the seasons.
How do you experience the outdoors when you don’t have time to go hiking or camping?
Elizabeth Adan 