By: Dominica Morris

I’ve always enjoyed spending time outdoors. It’s one of the most relaxing and peaceful experiences for me. So, now that it’s starting to warm up again, I’ve been spending so much more time in nature. Whether it’s mindfully watching the waves at the beach, a mindful nature walk with my family, or just plain relaxing in my backyard you’ll find me there. I never understood why being outdoors put me at so much at peace, until I started my mindfulness journey.

What Is Mindful Living?

For those of you who are new to mindfulness, you’re probably wondering what does mindful living mean? Mindful living is to be fully present at all times in your life. You do not worry about the future and you do not live in the past, you are completely 100% experiencing each present moment. This could mean that you’re not mindlessly scrolling on your phone while watching a movie but are actually staying focused on the movie. It could also mean that when you’re talking to someone that you’re fully present, listening to the other person, making sure that you’re fully understanding what they’re saying. In a nutshell, mindfulness means being present.

Most of us do not stay present in our day-to-day lives. We’re always on to the next move, three steps ahead. Whether it’s planning our careers or wondering what we’re going to cook for dinner that day, our minds are always looking for the next thing. This can cause a lot of exhaustion, stress, restlessness, and anxiety. A good mindfulness practice will bring you back to the present moment and alleviate a lot of those feelings. If you’re interested in starting your own mindfulness practice, and how mindful people incorporate mindful living techniques into their daily living you should read my blog article 10 Things Mindful People Do Differently.

The Science Behind Nature and Mindfulness

I never understood why being outdoors put me at so much at peace, until I started my mindfulness journey. I noticed that just spending a little time outdoors could reset my mood, and, put me at peace. While this is anecdotal evidence, there’s plenty of research to back it up. Just simple exposure to nature has been proven to improve overall health and wellbeing. According to a 2018 study on Mindfulness and Nature by William Van Gordon, Edo Shonin, and Miles Richardson, people who enjoy spending time in nature become more attentive to their environment, this attentiveness results in calmness, restfulness, and contemplation. Which are all of the factors that result in mindful living.

Other studies found that nature can bring balance to our emotion regulation system as well as our nervous system that controls our bodily functions such as our organs, including our heart. All of this can foster emotions of joy and calmness. Those same studies also found that you do not have to go on a vigorous hike to reach that state of wellbeing, just simply touching a piece of wood or viewing nature images can have the same physiological effects. How amazing is that?

Mindfulness and Nature from a Spiritual Perspective

All of these studies make complete sense. We’re all made up of natural elements. Each human body is made up of water, wind (our breath), fire (heat), and even earth. So, when we step outside and spend time in nature, we’re fully becoming one with what we are. In short, we are in our element, connecting to the space we belong in.

In our mindfulness practice, we always hear how mindfulness meditation is a big part of teaching you to become more present. That you have to incorporate it into your daily practice. But so is spending time in nature. It is just another way that you can help your mindfulness and even your meditation. practice.

Mindful Activities in Nature

Now that I’ve shown you the research to back up my claims, you’re probably wondering what mindful activities in nature you can do? Remember, it’s not so much of doing specific mindful activities in nature, but more so spending time in nature itself. You don’t have to do much. You can simply just sit in your backyard and relax. If you don’t have a backyard you can even bring nature to you. Decorate your home with plants and care for them. You can go for a walk at a park, spend the day at the beach, or water your plants at home. All of these things can bring you closer to nature. But maybe you can’t go outside for some reason, especially in the times that we’re living in some of us are spending more time indoors. I previously mentioned that even looking at nature photography can have a mindful effect on your wellbeing, and with the #plant craze going on right now simply bringing a potted plant into your home can also foster mindfulness.

If you’re looking for a deeper connection to nature you can also start doing some kind of outdoor sports. My family loves hiking, and it always puts us at peace, I’ve even written an extensive blog post on why hiking fosters mindfulness. Now, that we’ve moved to the beach I’m also learning how to skimboard which is enhancing my connection to the sea. just digging my toes in the sand and watching the waves instantly calms my nerves and eases away stress. Fishing, boating, and sailing are major activities around here and they can also all foster a deeper connection and appreciation to nature.

If you have little ones take them on nature walks and teach them about the plants and trees around them. Have them collect sticks, leaves, and rocks and let them explore the texture and feel of the natural environment. Whether it’s raining or sunny we take Carter outside to explore the different weather patterns. We want him to find a peaceful connection to nature at a young age. We read books about nature to him and then try to connect these books to his physical natural surroundings.

Now that it’s slowly warming up, take this opportunity to spend time outside. Find simple outdoor activities that can bring you peace, calmness, and restore your mind and spirit. This will bring you closer to a more mindful and happier you.