It is important to include some exercises in our daily life that help to connect with nature.
Last update: May 06, 2019
Connecting with nature becomes more and more difficult. What was once implicit in lifestyle now requires intentionality or even will. Many, therefore, have disconnected with this more ancient trait and have forgotten where we come from.
When you get away from nature, you happen to feel incomplete, sad or frustrated. Often we are not aware of why we feel this way. This is why it is important to include in our daily life some exercises that help to connect with nature.
Nature, physical and mental energy
Our health is affected, to a great extent, by the time we spend outside the home. By "away from home" we do not mean at the corner bar, but rather in the park, in the countryside, in the mountains, at the sea, at the river. They are the natural elements, far from our rhythm and our routine full of haste and stress.
To recover our physical and mental energy, we need, first of all, to grant rest to the body and mind. The disconnection that nature offers us is perfect for this purpose. But do you know how to enter into a relationship with nature and obtain the disconnection-reconnection effect?
4 exercises to connect with nature (again)
We have been in daily contact with nature since we became aware of our existence. The isolated society we live in is just a product of the last few decades. When was the last time you spent a few hours out of town? If you don't remember, these exercises will help you.
1. Understand why you need to connect with nature
Be aware of the need for contact with nature. It brings numerous benefits: less pollution, tranquility and knowledge of an environment in which we have moved for centuries.
2. Establish true contact
To connect with nature you need, of course, to immerse yourself in it. Look for the closest natural space, be it the city park or the mountain. Sit down and breathe. Close your eyes, feel the trees around you.
You can take some time to observe your surroundings. Do you know what trees they are? Do you know the animal species that live in your area? How many flower varieties can you recognize? It is not a question of having a botanical background, but of understanding the natural environment in which you live. If you do, you will feel more integrated.
3. Walk barefoot
If the type of terrain permits, establish direct contact. Feel it by touch, not just by sight or smell. How do fallen leaves feel in autumn? And a stone covered with moss? Give your sense of touch the opportunity to develop new skills.
4. Know yourself
Another gift offered to us by nature is the possibility of knowing ourselves. Better if we are alone, when we can meditate or, simply, when we sit down to think about important aspects of our life. Introspection and self-knowledge, combined with sensory experience with nature, relaxes and brings mental clarity.
Connecting with nature makes you smarter
These exercises, in addition to being good for the body and spirit, make us smarter.
- They reduce stress and mental fatigue. By making them, in fact, we recover that energy that allows us to develop our skills. We will be able to count on a healthier and less worried mind.
- They reduce irritability and aggression. In fact, they help to recognize our emotions more easily and to develop positive thoughts.
- They improve self-esteem and self-control. This means that they enhance emotional intelligence, which helps us to relate to others and to ourselves.
- Stimulates the imagination and sociability. Being smart isn't just about storing data in the brain. It also means improving the ability to adapt, understanding who is close to us or investing in the quality of our interpersonal relationships.
Nature is a gift that we often overlook. We think that the convenience of modern life has supplanted our "challenge" with nature. What we propose, then, is a balance. Being able to combine modern life, made up of digital displays and challenges, with the tranquility that comes from regaining contact with the earth and walking barefoot.
