Grounding in Nature: Slow Living Practices I Live By

Nature. That thing outside your front door that you know you should get out in more but constantly find excuses to push to tomorrow, or next week, or next month. Or maybe you just don’t do nature. As odd as that sounds to a nature lover like me, some people just don’t do nature. They have no connection to it. Their lives are indoors, in cities, surrounded by people and technology and to-d0 lists and not rocks and trees. No judgement if this is you. The world has become a place where many of us don’t really have to go outside very much, and our lives can be run perfectly fine from our houses or offices, and so the outdoors isn’t necessarily something we even consider exploring. This hasn’t been the case for most of humanities history, however. To survive for the last 99% of our existence we needed nature to sustain us and allow us to create communities that could support the expansion of our lives. We grew up in nature, we worshipped nature, we respected nature, and we recognized how essential nature was to our lives. Whether it’s good or bad that we have mostly moved past this model of life is up for debate, but nevertheless, here we are.

I’ve always loved being outside. Walking, hiking, exploring. They come naturally to me. I mean, I have a Sagittarius moon, so I can’t really help it. But I haven’t always paid attention to how important being in nature actually is to my wellbeing. I’ve gone through long periods where I’ve wasted away indoors for months at a time, overwhelmed by life and all of my responsibilities, watching crap on TV, taking care of every little thing thinking it will ease the stress constantly pressing down on me, only to find that as soon as I do the thing I think will help, another thing pops up in its place and the stress goes absolutely nowhere. You want to know where this approach to life got me? Well, that’s a perfect recipe for an unhappy, overwhelmed, imbalanced Jenny.

You want to know how I got out of the cycle of overwhelm, imbalance, and unhappiness? I went outside. I know it sounds too simple but it’s the truth. I went outside every single day. I chose to walk away from my computer and my chores and my house and my deadlines and take an hour for myself. When I had a small child I would take him too, of course, but we would get out of the house. Maybe it was just a walk around the neighborhood, or a walk in the park, or a picnic in the backyard, or an adventure to a lake or a new town to explore. I made the outdoors a part of my life, and it has helped me so much I actually made it a goal to move to a new house surrounded by nature where I could more easily access my therapy every day. Incredibly, it worked out and I now own a house in the woods across the street from a park and a lake.

What do I do when I’m outside? Well, I think. I talk through things that I need more clarity on. I listen to podcasts - lots of personal development podcasts, for instance. I listen to music. I try to keep my mind clear of clutter and meditate on the sights and sounds around me. It depends on the day and what I need. And you know what? It makes me feel better every time. There are lots of other benefits to being outside, but I’ll let YouTube Jenny tell you about those. Just know that it’s a thing and there are real tangible benefits to both your mental and physical wellbeing.

So what do you do if, like me, you have found yourself in a place where you are too stressed out and don’t have room to breathe or think or deal with things so you are just burying them and trudging on day after day after day? I recommend finding whatever it is that will motivate you to step away from it for a bit and get back in touch with yourself. There shouldn’t be screens or too many distractions. Just you and your thoughts and maybe some guidance or ambiance that makes you feel good. Could be yoga, hiking, walking, kayaking, exploring somewhere new, reading in a comfy spot with a nice view. You figure it out for yourself. I know time seems like a resource we have way too little of, and taking time out of your day when you could be productive feels wrong a lot of the time. I still struggle with this. BUT not taking time for yourself and to nurture your relationship with your inner being and the world around you has its costs too. I promise you, once you start to feel the benefits, you’ll find it much easier to prioritize working that time in your day.

I made this YouTube video to explore and explain my thoughts on being outdoors and connecting with nature. I hope you enjoy it, I had a fabulous time getting dressed up for a day of frolicking in my backyard. And just to say it one ore time so no one has to ask, I got the dress from Shein! Enjoy, friends.

Nature. It's so easy to allow your life to tether you to your home, your office, your computer, your phone... we all know this isn't healthy, but what do we do about it? Self care can look like many many things, but for me, it looks like a walk in the woods. Earthing in my backyard. Dancing under the full moon. How do you find ways to step away from all of the demands in your life and tune in to yourself and the world around you?

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