Nurture Yourself in Nature
What is free, easily accessible and good for your health?
Depending on who you are and where you live, you may be thinking: oxygen, wifi, water, sex, happiness, laughter…
All of which may be true, but the answer I am looking for is:
Nature.
Albert Einstein (who was, as we know, a genius) recommended, “look deep, deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.”
We know that spending time in nature every day can be very transformative and healing. But as we get busier and our lives get more stressed and pressured, we seem to spend less time in nature. We are always rushing – from house to car, from car to office, from office to car and back into the house, maybe with a stop in at the shops on the way. We even go inside to exercise in gyms. And when we feel sick or unwell? Why, we go to a doctor (inside their office) and then we go to bed (inside our homes) and hope to get better.
For some time now, medical professionals have believed that many health problems are partly due to or worsened by our alienation from nature. Richard Louv talks about “Nature Deficit Disorder” which affects people who spend too much time indoors and are unable to connect sufficiently with nature.
When clients come to me suffering from exhaustion, overwhelm, burnout, a feeling of disconnection or stuckness the first thing I recommend is that they spend time every day in nature. They don’t have to do anything there (in fact the less they do, the better) they just have to be there. Because I know – and they learn – that there is nothing that brings you back to yourself and calms you down better than being outside and in the elements.
And the good news is that it is all around us.
It is in the birds, animals, plants and flowers. The seasons and the weather, the sun and the moon and the stars, light and dark – nature is hard at work in every nook and cranny.
Take some time out in the natural world and pay attention to how each of your senses is responding:
- What are you seeing?
- What scents are you inhaling?
- What tastes are you aware of?
- What can you feel on your skin?
- What sounds are you hearing?
I can pretty much guarantee that if you spend just a few minutes every day mindfully being in and with nature, you will start to see an improvement in your states of mind and body.
Even if you live in a high rise building in a concrete jungle, you can connect with nature if you try – by looking at the sky, by feeling the air on your skin, by growing plants inside or buying flowers, by eating fresh fruit and vegetables.
Feeling overwhelmed in your life, work or relationships?
- Purchase one of my self-study online courses.
Tags: be happy | energy | exhaustion | holidays | look after yourself | nature | overwhelm | retreat | self-rescue
- “I have seen various psychologists and therapists but none of them have the skill of Judy in being able to relate to me and the way I think about things.”
- “Judy, you have given me the tools to change and move my life in directions I never knew possible. I am truly grateful for your help.”
- “Perception is everything and working with Judy has helped me realise my true potential by changing my outlook of life into more positive ones. I enjoy walking out of a life coaching session feeling like I am in control again, less stressed and more energetic.”
- “Judy is my go-to person when I find myself uncertain about how to interpret the signposts in my life. Her insights and ability to draw out what lies deepest inside have helped provide clarity and integrity at pivotal life moments over many years.”
- “I’d recommend Judy to anyone who’s feeling stuck, weary, confused, discouraged, uncertain, in need of support – basically, I’d recommend her to any carbon-based life form that breathes oxygen and would like to have a wonderful life.”
As seen on and in
