Last week I was taking a walk with a friend at a local park and noticed on our second lap, that I had failed to notice on my first lap, a field of wild-flowers. We stopped a while and enjoyed the breath-taking natural beauty of this sight. I told my friend about an article I had read earlier that week about nature and wellbeing in the elderly. The article in the journal Health and Place, showed that even brief and seemingly small contacts with the natural world are good for wellbeing in the elderly. Examples reported include a koi pond, a view of flowers, hearing the sound of running water or a bee buzzing have a positive impact.
Wild-flowers
Now this all got me thinking about how often we stop and take in nature… really take it in. We are all so busy today, rushing from one place to another or with our faces permanently fixed to a electronics, that we rarely stop and notice the beauty around us. It’s not just the elderly who can benefit from more contact with nature, we all can. Focusing your attention or “becoming present” in nature, is a powerful mindfulness practice, that can help you flourish in all areas of your life.
6 ways to increase your daily dose of nature
1. Take a walk around your yard or closest natural space and focus only on your surroundings… no music, no phone, no distractions. Look for the most beautiful or interesting thing you can see and stop for at least one minute and give this object your complete attention. Notice what you see, what you hear, what you smell, what you taste, what you touch and what you feel.
2. Listen to some nature music that you enjoy… perhaps ocean waves, rainforest sounds or rain. Close your eyes and take in the sounds. Notice how you feel.
3. If you are a parent of young-ish children, take them to the nearest park, trail or beach and play a game that encourage presence: eye-spy, a scavenger hunt or play “trackers” (a game with 2 groups, where one goes ahead and sets a trail of clues, which the other team follow to find the first).
4. Exercise or just take a stroll outside, alone or with a friend, and be determined to pay attention to the world around you.
5. If you are really stuck inside and really can’t get out, look through old photos of favorite natural scenes, watch a nature video online or pay attention to a plant or flowers and really take in the detail.
6. Try a nature meditation such as…
http://www.meditation4moms.com/welcome-to-day-12-connecting-with-nature/
or practice your normal meditation regime in a natural place.
The beauty of nature is a gift that we have access to, and if we take more opportunities to soak it up and enjoy it, it will help us thrive in all areas of our life. So treat yourself to an extra dose of nature today!
Dr Leonaura Rhodes 