Many of us suffer with stress and anxiety. The pressures of modern life wear us down and send us to an early grave. We’re in desperate need of an intervention that can re-invigorate body, mind and spirit…. but not one made by man. In this post, we’ll take a look at how to live in tune with nature and why that may be our best bet for long-term health.
Modern life is exciting, fast-paced and future focussed. We can do almost anything we want 24/7 and use the technology at our finger tips to be ever more productive.
The problem is, being switched on all the time doesn’t do us much good. It raises our anxiety, blood pressure, muscle tension, and sense of fatigue. When we don’t give ourselves a break, prolonged stress wreaks havoc on our hormones, nerves, immunity and digestion.
According to The American Institute of Stress:
- About 33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress
- 77 percent of people experience stress that affects their physical health
- 73 percent of people have stress that impacts their mental health
- 48 percent of people have trouble sleeping because of stress
Despite advances in education and technology, for about half of all Americans, levels of stress are getting worse instead of better.
There are pills we can take and therapists who can help us to cope, but one of the best ways to improve our health is to reconnect with the natural world. Connecting with nature is a mindful practice that can greatly reduce the stress and anxiety in our lives.
Here are some simple ways to live in tune with nature and activate your bodies healing processes:
Observe nature
The first step to getting in sync with nature is to focus on nature. Remember what you are and where you came from. You’re a miracle of the universe. You’re a natural creature that thrives in natural surroundings.
Head outside. Let the elements play on your skin. Pay attention to the rise and fall of the sun. Observe the changing climate and colours of the seasons. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of nature as they dance around you.
Build a keen sensitivity and appreciation for the natural world and you will inevitably move with it.
Rise and fall with the sun
Sleep is one of the cornerstone’s of good health. When we sleep, our brain and body slows down and enters a deep state of recovery. We go through four distinct stages that promote better physical and mental performance the next day and over the long-term.
The problem is, artificial light and entertainment devices make it difficult to switch off at night. Most of us have inconsistent sleeping habits and are chronically sleep deprived.
Ideally, we should be getting around 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night for optimal recovery. Asleep when it’s dark and awake when it’s light.
Going to bed at the same time each night and rising at the same time each day can help reset your circadian rhythm. Avoiding stimulants in the evening and turning off devices 1-2 hours before bed will also help to improve quality of sleep.
Viewing sunlight first thing in the morning for 2-30 minutes, as recommended by Dr. Andrew Huberman, is an effective way to improve alertness during the day and sleep quality during the night.
Eat real food
There are loads of diets, pills and potions to make you feel good and help you lose weight but the thing that truly counts when it comes to health is real food. Real food that grows in the ground, falls from a tree, runs through the fields and swims in the sea.
That’s what we’ve survived on and that’s what we thrive on.
Processed foods make up close to 70 percent of the U.S. diet. That’s concerning, as high consumption of processed foods is a leading cause of obesity and heart disease. It’s also a contributing factor to several chronic diseases. The further we move away from a whole food diet, the more our health declines.
Whenever possible choose fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, nuts and seeds. Look for produce that’s locally sourced and in season. Organic is preferable. Try to prepare meals yourself and be mindful of where it came from.
Escape the city
Cities are great. They’re full of energy, with lots to do and plenty of opportunities to advance your career. But they’re not especially healthy places. The stress is high, air quality is low and you waste most of your time and money just trying to keep up.
Escaping the city, and spending time in nature, is one of the best ways to bring our lives back into balance. There we can slow down, breathe fresh air, enjoy the silence, wander aimlessly and gain some much needed perspective. We can also sleep deeper at night when we’re surrounded by nothing but darkness.
You can visit parks, forests and beaches nearby for regular mini escapes and venture further afield when you need a deeper reset. Once a month is great, once a week is better, and moving permanently might be the best choice if city life is too much for you.
Serve your community
There are many ways to serve your community and enjoy nature at the same time. You can volunteer to help plant trees and clean up beaches. You can get involved with the preservation of natural habitats. You can create a garden at home for birds to feed and insects to thrive. What nature friendly activities would you like to do in your community? Do you have any friends who would like to get involved also?
Let things flow
Set goals, make plans and do the work, but don’t get hung up on the outcomes. You’ll be happier and more fulfilled in life when you learn to flow with it.
Sometimes things don’t go to plan, or happen quite as fast as we want them to. Sometimes life kicks us in the teeth. That’s just the way it is, so it’s important to accept that we can’t control everything, or force things to happen on our timescale.
Plant your seeds, water them and then be patient. Let nature work its magic.
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Image: @szmigieldesign
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