Years and years of research proves it: Our love for and need to connect with nature is deep-rooted in our genes. It plays a crucial role in our overall happiness and improves our well-being at every level, whether physical, psychological, social or even spiritual. Among other benefits, nature can help reduce stress and loneliness, boost our immune system and increase our energy levels. It also makes you more aware and grateful for what the world has to offer. It makes you feel more alive.
Yet, nowadays, over half of the world lives in cities. 75% of the European Union citizens – 82% in the US – live in urban areas. Besides, the development of technology, especially the screens and social media invasion of our daily lives, deepens the gap most of us experience nowadays regarding our connection to nature. Fortunately, moving to the countryside is not the only way to reconnect with our environment and benefit from a boost in happiness and well-being!
Here are 12 easy ways to reconnect with nature in our modern, busy and urban lives:
Connect with Nature #1: Spend time outside every day
Let’s start with the basics: the best way to reconnect with nature is to spend time outside e.very.day. Most cities offer green spaces, so you don’t need to go far. Heading to the closest park from home or work should become a daily habit. It can be just for a walk, or you can mix it with another activity, such as reading a book or having a yoga/gym outdoor session. Open your senses to the nature alive around you: observe, listen, feel and smell how your environment changes in different times of the day, seasons or weathers.
Talking about the weather, let’s highlight a sensitive point. Bad weather is not an excuse to stay at home! Spending time outdoors is just as crucial for your well-being during the winter as it is during the summer. Don’t worry, I know how strolling under a cold rain or through an icy wind might sound dreadful. Honestly, I felt the same three years ago. But there is one thing I learned living in Finland: nature is full of contrast. It can be extreme and capricious, and you could waste your time and energy complaining about it and sulking inside. Disclaimer: nature won’t care. You have so much more to gain if you accept and embrace it. The additional bonus will be the boost of joy and personal satisfaction you get when coming home to a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate!
Connect with Nature #2: Socialise outside
I personally love spending alone time outside to recharge. Still, you don’t have to be an introverted lone wolf like me to enjoy being outdoors! Why not take some of your social activities in the open? Next time you want to meet with a friend, you could, for example, order your coffee to take away and stroll your city streets and green spaces together. You could join a sports team or yoga class whose training is outdoors. Instead of eating lunch in front of your computer, why not have a casual picnic with your colleagues outside? The possibilities are plenty!
Connect with Nature #3: Adopt a houseplant
Good news: you can also reconnect with nature from inside your city apartment. And don’t worry, you don’t need to turn your studio into the amazon jungle for that! One or two houseplants are enough to start with and enjoy the many benefits of nurturing them, such as boosting your mood, motivation, focus, creativity and productivity. Your new roommates may not pay part of the rent, but they’ll add a touch of life to your interior, improve the indoor air quality and reduce your anxiety and fatigue.
Bonus: many houseplants are easy to care for and do not require much time, skills or attention (just be careful if you have pets or kids, many of them can be toxic. I mean the plants, not the kids). I personally went for a Sansevieria and a Devil’s Ivy a couple months ago, and I love them! They even got nicknames: respectively Sansa and Ivy, because I was crazy inspired.
Connect with Nature #4: Source and cook your own food
Whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, food is another powerful way to connect with nature. There is intrinsic satisfaction in cooking a meal from scratch with raw, natural ingredients you put some love and effort into collecting.
Shopping at your local market, collecting fruits and veggies at a Pick-your-own farm, or going mushroom and berries picking are all wonderful activities. Besides, you’ll get some seasonal ingredients for your next meal. Simply imagine a pie made from the berries you collected baking in the oven – the smell, the crisping sound, the golden look. How not feel pride, satisfaction, gratefulness and inner peace?
A healthy, natural diet is key to your physical and mental well-being. There is only to gain in being mindful of our relationship with food, one of the many invaluable resources nature provides us with.
#5: Create an indoor herb garden
(Disclaimer: I have yet to implement this myself - It's the next item on my list!)
You can also combine #3 and #4 by building an indoor herb garden to grow your own aromatics. Oregano, chervil, laurel, thyme, basil… you’ll never again run out of delicious, home-grown seasoning for your next meal! And if you grow mint, you’ll be able to reconnect with nature AND supply your next cocktail parties. How amazing is that?
You can easily find plenty of options online to start your indoor garden at an affordable price. Whatever your favourite design style, your ambitions or your green-thumb skills are, you’ll be able to find something that fits you and your house perfectly! Some models include growing lights if you don’t have a sunny window available in your kitchen. Others even have their self-running, automatic water system!
Here’s a list of affordable options (< $100) to check out:
* This section contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. Thank you for your support!
- The most design: Casewind Window Plant Hanger Indoor Herb Garden
- The most techie: GrowLED Indoor Herb Garden
- The mini aquaponic ecosystem: Back to the Roots Water Garden
- The modern farmhouse touch: The Garden Fork Farmhouse Kitchen Window Planter Box
#6: Watch the sunrise or sunset
I adore sunsets. My personal Instagram feed is full of them. Nature clearly showcases its awe-inspiring beauty and power during those moments. They are so peaceful and vibrant at the same time, both calming and revitalising. The sky becomes a masterpiece with bold, inspiring strikes of colours and lights effect.
Every now and then, try to take the time to appreciate these daily shifts and observe the world waking up or going to bed. Research shows that it could also help adjust your own metabolism rhythm, priming you for high-level energy in the morning and for soothing peace in the evening.
#7: Befriend a tree (#crazyalert)
No, I’m not crazy. You also don’t have to hug a tree, even though you can regularly see it recommended online. Yet, I believe trees are tremendous, grounding companions.
We never told anyone, but my best friend and I had our own friendship story with a tree when we were in high school. One day, we sat at the terrace of a café in the city centre, and there was a Plane Tree next to our table. We came back and chose the same table the following week. And the next one. And the next one. This particular table became our favourite spot, and the tree a part of our discussions. He was evolving with us throughout the seasons, burgeoning during spring, giving us refreshing shadows during the summer and turning bright orange when it was time again for autumn jackets.
Even during the winter, when we passed in front of the closed terrace and our naked tree, he was a steady reminder that warmer days will come back and that he would still be there. We never hugged him, but we naturally developed a habit of putting our hand on its trunk when taking vows, such as moving on from a crush or keeping a secret. You know, whatever teenagers might commit to. It had an eternal, reassuring presence. So why don’t you pick a tree in your own city and visit him regularly?
#8: Be mindful of your CONSTANT connection with nature
Nature is everywhere when you take time to notice its presence: In the changing lights of the sky and the touch of the breeze, in the ground under the concrete you walk on, in the life of all the species, birds, mammals and insects, who adjusted to our urban environment. And, of course, in yourself and in your own body. To reconnect with nature no matter where you are or what you’re doing, focus on your breath, this invisible flow that runs through all species and keeps us alive and connected. Visualise your breath running through your body, filling your lungs and moving out back to the atmosphere.
#9: Organise a countryside weekend getaway
Maybe vast natural spaces are not immediately accessible where you live. In this case, you can take advantage of your weekends and holidays to plan a getaway outside the city. It will be the perfect opportunity to disconnect and enjoy some peace and quiet away from all the hustles and obligations of modern life. Don’t hesitate to try out new experiences, such as a new hiking path, a camping night or even an initiation to the Japanese practice of forest bathing!
#10: Watch nature videos and documentaries
Most of the time, reconnecting with nature implies spending less time in front of screens. Yet, we all love those sofa evenings in front of Netflix every now and then, don’t we? So why not take advantage of them to educate ourselves about the world? A study done for the Real Happiness Project showed that nature documentaries are the best TV shows for your mental health.
Sure, it isn’t exactly the same as experiencing it directly. Yet, even behind a screen, nature can increase your feelings of joy, amazement, contentment, and curiosity while decreasing your feelings of stress, anxiety, anger, and fatigue. Nature documentaries can indeed be awe-inspiring, making you temporarily forget your daily worries in favour of the bigger life picture. Education and knowledge will also help you care more and reinforce your connection with the planet we all share.
#11: Invite nature into your Fashion & Beauty routines
Another way to reconnect with nature that might sound counterintuitive at first takes place in your wardrobe and bathroom. Generally speaking, the fashion and cosmetic industries are environmental disasters. They put heavy pressure on natural resources and use an incredible amount of toxic chemicals and plastic. They also encourage mass consumption and thicken the pollution that results from it. Fortunately, things are slowly changing: more and more environmentally aware consumers request brands to reduce their environmental footprint.
Many beauty giants have taken part in the green movement through recycled packaging, organic ingredients, and renewable energy sources in production. In the fashion industry, more and more brands offer sustainable clothes that are both affordable and stylish. Organic ingredients and processes are not only better for the environment, but they are also better for you! So be mindful next time you buy a piece of cloth or a cosmetic product. You can progressively turn your wardrobe and skincare closet into something that brings you joy and that you are proud of. Environmentally friendly products you love will help you keep a daily connection with the planet.
Here’s my current personal pick for an earth-grounding skincare routine:
* This section contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost for you. Thank you for your support!
- A moisturising body lotion to keep your skin soft and hydrated: Kopari Coconut Body milk
- A detox face mask that both clears and hydrates: Juice Beauty Bamboo pore refining mask
- A versatile, natural face moisturizer: Ursa Major Golden Hour recovery cream
- A treat to fight puffiness and eye bags: Weleda eyes and lip cream
- A soothing and nourishing face wash that gently remove make-up: Indie Lee Rosehip Cleanser
Bonus: It’s not a skincare per say, but I really adore the 100% Pure Ultra-lengthening Mascara. Who can say “no” to naturally long and healthy eyelashes?
#12: Advocate for environmental protection
Reconnecting with nature generally makes you both feel better and care more. Suppose you want to go further and take an active part in its protection. In that case, you can join one of the many environmental charities and organisations that exist nowadays, both on a local and global scale. Engagement can take many forms, and all of them matters! The idea is to find the one that fits you and your life circumstances best.
If you had the possibility, you could, for example, look for volunteering in an environmental project abroad. Or you could join a local organisation and participate in diverse activities, such as cleaning natural areas, helping out in community gardens or teaching classes around environmental awareness. If that works best for you, you could also donate to charities working towards environmental justice, conservation, wildlife protection or ecological agriculture.