Do you seek inner peace? Do you ever feel disconnected? Maybe you’re so preoccupied with everything in your daily existence that you hardly even have time to realise what’s going on around you.
Perhaps the only moment you observe nature is when the weather meddles with your to-do list. Maybe you can’t recall the last time you were inclined to simply inhale and sit outdoors.
There is indeed a great deal of proof that seeking inner peace by spending time in nature has a considerable beneficial influence on both mental and physical health. Strolling in a green space has been demonstrated to help with mental health issues such as depression and ADHD.
According to VeryWellMind: On days when you’re struggling with negative thoughts about your body, many different coping mechanisms can help. But new research suggests you should get outside and spend time in nature to soothe those feelings.
Negative body image is a risk factor for behaviours like disordered eating, which can have disastrous consequences for one’s body, mind, and relationships. Nowadays, it can be harder to avoid negative body thoughts when navigating social media.
Time spent in nature is a wonderful way to find inner peace, in addition to treating particular mental health challenges and enhancing mental and physical well-being.
For some of us, it is the start of a meditation practice or a heightened spiritual understanding of how we are all related. For others, it is simply a fantastic method to relieve tension.
Here are a few excellent techniques to get started bonding with the natural world around you, no matter where you want your time outside to take you.
1) Slow down to the speed of nature
Walking slowly causes you to breathe more slowly, making you feel instantly more relaxed. Slow down and start seeing the environment around you. It may be a speck of lichen in a crack in the sidewalk or a tree you’ve never spotted before. Look around you carefully and deliberately to see what you discover as you sink into this more natural rhythm of being.
2) Experiment with barefoot breathing
We people are the only animals that put a shoe between our feet and the Spirit of the Earth. The act of taking off your shoes and standing barefoot on the ground satisfies a primitive urge for connectivity.
Find inner peace by seeking a peaceful spot outside—a park nook, a quiet spot in your garden, or your favourite wild location. Shut your eyes and take 100 deep, soft breaths while feeling the sunlight on your face, the breeze on your body, and the warm heart of the ground via the soles of your feet.
3) Dine outside
Take your lunch or a book outside to enjoy on a park seat or picnic blanket. While you dine or read, take in the fresh air and natural sunlight (or both).
4) Give a tree a hug
Which words come to mind when you think about trees? Sturdy? High? Statuesque? Tenacious? Primitive? The world’s oldest trees have been alive for thousands of years, and we rely on them to create the oxygen we need to live.
Although the term ‘tree-hugger’ is sometimes used ironically, hugging a tree is an easy method to boost your energy levels by mopping up all that energy and oxygen-rich deliciousness! Close your eyes and press your cheek on the trunk. Feel the bark on your flesh as you spread your arms to embrace the tree and find inner peace.
Also, visit a greenhouse or a flower shop. Soak in the aroma of green vegetation and a plethora of flowers. Step into a flower shop’s refrigerated department, which is brimming with freshly cut bouquets.
Give heed to the tiny weeds and wildflowers that sprout up in sidewalk cracks. Consider the persistence and perseverance of that small creature to take root and flourish in such a challenging environment whenever you observe this. Take a moment to send your best wishes and consider how you can draw strength from the inner peace it brings.
