Modern living and technology gives us a lot of comforts, but it also takes some important things away. For many people, we work on computers, sit for long periods of time, and spend a lot of time inside. This means that we do not spend enough time moving, especially outdoors, and we have lost our connection to nature. This indoor isolation is actually quite detrimental to our mental health. Therefore, we need to find ways to reconnect to nature in order to improve our quality of life.
Just spending time outside
Reconnecting with nature does not have to be as extreme as going on a multi-day hike in the mountains with no service, or taking a survival skills trip (though those can be pretty amazing). Just taking a bit of time out of your busy schedule to get outside and appreciate the wonders in your local park can help! In fact, even just 15 minutes a day in nature can boost your mental health. If you can spend a bit longer, or make sure you are being active during that time, even better!
Learning about plants and animals in the area
One of the best ways to better connect with nature and to improve your sense of belonging is to get to know the flora and fauna around you. Taking some time to learn the names of the trees on your walk to work or the species of birds that visit your yard or balcony is fun, a good exercise for the brain, and helps you to care more about protecting the biodiversity around you. Local guidebooks from the library, apps like iNaturalist, and local online or in person nature groups can be a great place to get started.
Learning outdoor skills
You can take your journey to nature reconnection one step further by learning important outdoor and survival skills. When you learn outdoors skills not only do you get satisfaction from working with your hands and learning new things, but you also boost your confidence to take your adventures a bit further and experience the outdoors to the fullest. For one, it can be fun to show off to your friends when camping how to build the perfect fire. Perhaps more importantly, it can prepare you for the worst case scenarios, like if you happen to get lost or injured on your more adventurous excursions. Overall, having these skills can make you feel more at home in the outdoors.
Sharing with others
A final tip for reconnecting nature is to also take this time to build community. Whether you go outside with friends and family, join new groups, or take outdoor courses, getting outside together can build an even stronger sense of belonging and community; one that many of us are missing in our busy lives. People are social animals, and most of our history has been spent outdoors in small groups foraging, hunting, and building things together. For this reason, getting outside with a group of people can help us go back to our roots and feel much better about our place on Earth.
Final thoughts
There are many ways you can reconnect with nature, and it is really important that we do. Whether you spend a few minutes a day walking outdoors, take a weekend to camp, go birdwatching, join a local naturalist group, or take outdoor courses, this time is well spent towards a better quality of life. Making connections with others through nature takes this one step further to helping us feel less isolated and more grounded.
