I’m going to be honest–getting out into nature isn’t easy for me. I’m not really sure why, as I want to be out in nature, but I always find myself indoors doing everything but being outside. But being out in nature is the best way to reduce stress and re-set your nervous system. It’s the most perfect self care. So today I thought I would sit down and think about ways we can all be out in nature, even when if we find getting out into nature hard.
So let’s dive right into how we can practice self care in nature!
Get into Gardening
I always wanted to garden, and now that I have a house, I am able to. I was just out in the garden today and there is a lot of weeding to do, more leaves to rake up and later in the month, maybe some planting to do.
Whether you have a flower garden, like I do, or a veggie garden–or maybe both–getting into gardening is a great way to get out into nature. Getting your hands into the dirt re-connects you with the earth and I find myself immediately feeling more focused and at peace.
If you can’t garden because you don’t have the space, you could always plant in planter pots. Many vegetables grow well in these, and flowers do wonderfully in them as well. You could also grow herbs in them.
Gardening is both a hobby and a way to practice self care in nature as seeing the fruits of your labour flourish is really rewarding. It’s a perfect way to practice self care in nature.
Bring Your Hobbies Outdoors
One of the “reasons” I don’t get outdoors as much I would like is because I can become really absorbed in my hobbies. I love to read and crochet, and I think a great way to practice self care is to bring those hobbies outside. I started doing that last year, and I found that I would often pause and just bask in the beauty of the greenery and flowers. I think bringing hobbies that are quiet, like crochet and reading, is especially great because you can take a break and just enjoy the sway of the trees in the wind or watch a bird being a bird whereas if you brought a hobby like listening to music or a podcast outside, it’s likely to distract you from the nature around you.
Some hobbies to bring outdoors that are mindful are:
- knit/crochet
- reading
- painting
- sketching/drawing
- colouring
- diamond painting
- journalling
- needlework (cross stitch/embroidery/sewing)
Bring Your Prayers to Nature
Many people pray. Some meditate. I have really found prayer brings me a lot of peace and has seriously reduced my anxiety and stress. Something we can all do is find a quiet spot out in nature–whether that’s in your garden, on a park bench or out on some wooded trail you are hiking on–is pray outside. Prayers can be simple, or they can be the ones the church teaches, but either way, taking that time to connect with God is the best self care you can practice.
If you have never prayed, you can meditate instead if you are more comfortable with that. Or, simply try prayer!
Photograph Nature
My husband and I did this one year, we got out into the downtown area and just started taking photos of interesting things. Not all of them were of nature, but I would love to get into a nice meadow-y area and take photos of flowers and maybe some ducks. I follow a lot of nature accounts and I love seeing the colours of flowers and hearing the bird song and seeing macro videos of ladybugs. Nature photography really appeals to me, and I think you could really benefit from being out in there nature, observing the beauty of God’s creation and snap a few photos too.
Plus this is a great way to learn how to use those macro settings on your phone!
Sit by a Stream
Another great thing to do to practice self care in nature is to sit by a stream. Listening to running water is so soothing. Apparently, there is something in the repetitive nature of running water that the brain finds calming and promotes relaxation so it would likely be best to find a stream that is away from the noises of things like a highway.
I would love to have a stream nearby so I could do exactly this, but if you do, please try this out as I think you will find yourself so relaxed after simply sitting by a stream.
In Conclusion
I really want to spend these warmer months outdoors more. I want to watch my son play, garden, sit with my yarn and crochet, observe the bugs (the ones that don’t scare me anyway) and the birds and just enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Hopefully the heat doesn’t get to me too much because that’s always been something that has also kept me indoors in the past as the heat and humidity in my neck of the woods don’t always agree me. But I think I have resolved to be out there in the beauty of nature, and that will likely help me get out more and practice self care in a whole new way–in nature.
What kind of self care do you practice? Share all your ideas in the comments below!