We All Need a Dose of Nature

I take a walk pretty much every morning. It’s not about exercise, though I know that’s good for me, but about starting my day in nature. Nature is like vitamin C for our soul. It boosts our resilience. 

The truth is nature keeps me in the moment instead of ruminating. It brings me back to what I see, hear, smell, feel, and taste right now. 

I’m not alone in finding strength and solace in nature. Researchers find that nature helps us flourish. 

I think we all need more of it for well-being, for resilience, and for joy. 

Nature Demands Attention, in a Good Way

My morning walk could be a blur of movement, getting from one place to another, eyes on my phone or ears filled with a podcast. But instead, I pay attention. I notice the light change, see the sky and clouds. I smell flowers in bloom or the tang of salt air. I hear the birds chorusing at dawn. I feel the breeze and hear the leaves rustle. 

There’s so much to take in, but unlike rapidfire news or pings on my phone, each moment of noticing grounds me in the place and this moment. It might calm me or exhilarate me, but it moves me deeply and satisfyingly. 

Nature is a source of awe for many people. It’s not just a pretty sight, but something that stretches us and fills us with wonder. The abundance of a superbloom, the pounding of a waterfall, the expanse of the night sky … all of these things can create awe. And awe lowers stress while increasing creativity, connection, and satisfaction. 

How to Get a Nature Boost

You can get a nature boost even if you aren’t outdoorsy or live in a city.  

As a girl growing up in an apartment building in New York City, I watched as the sky turned pink and lavender and then red and orange from our window with my dad. No matter how many times I watch a sunset, even through a window from the 15th floor, it never fails to make me remember those times and also feel awe and joy. 

That dose of nature also came with connection, because I shared the experience with my dad. I made a ritual with my daughter of visiting our “tree friends,” a group of trees covered in green moss. Nature + connection is a double dose of resilience. 

Here are three other ways to get a dose of nature

1. Zoom in on Your Senses. Get beyond thinking of nature as a view. What do you hear, feel, and smell if you close your eyes? What details can you see if you slow down and notice? Think color, texture, shape, movement.  
2. Look at the sky. Go outside each day and look up for five minutes. What do you see? How does it feel to shift your view? What happens when you do this day after day?
3. Repeat Visit. Pick a spot — it could be a favorite hike, a patch of garden by your back door, or a tree you pass every day on the way to work. For the next week, pause and notice each day. See what you can take in when you grant your full attention. 

You don’t need a 2-hour hike, a grand vista, or a magnificent sunset to experience the benefits of nature. The key is giving the nature around you, your attention. When you do, you gain awe, joy, and resilience.

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