Two Simple Practices to Reconnect with Nature (and Yourself) This Summer for Better Mental Health
Last year I completed the Nature Informed Therapist certification through the Center for Nature Informed Therapy’s training. The training itself felt quite magical. It was three full days tucked into the woods of Puh’tok in the Pines (northern Baltimore), engaging in mindfulness practices and exploring our evolutionary history with the natural world.
Like many spring days in the northeastern US, it was mostly damp and chilly, punctuated by warm campfire smoke and the intermittent piercing call of hawks circling above.
What I’d learned about nature so far is that it provides ample opportunity to lean into distress tolerance by being with the elements (keeping safety in mind of course) — and most outdoor activities will go on rain or shine. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only poor preparation.
We’ve moved away from life in the sun — and it’s taking a toll.
Historically as a species, we used to spend 90% of our time in contact with the earth and its rhythms. Our bodies are wired to relax physically when our senses pick up on nature’s cues, and we’ve adapted to process information we receive from plants or bodies of water.
Instead, the necessity of work and present-day living mean that most of us spend our time indoors, in cars, and immersed in bustling urban areas. And it’s noisy out there. The racket from traffic or technology has the opposite effect of nature on our bodies. Artificial sounds tend to initiate a stress response in our nervous systems.
Attachment theory in relationships has become more well-known in recent years, both in therapy and in the cultural lexicon. We’re learning how painful ruptures early in our relationships with primary caregivers can impact us as adults, our present-day relationships, and our sense of well-being.
We may experience symptoms of depression or anxiety when these early ruptures go unattended. Similarly, some theorists see our relationship with the earth as an attachment connection, just like we have with our human caregivers. If there’s a fracture in this attachment, we may also develop a wound, which, left unattended, could contribute to symptoms of depression and anxiety — as we would with any other interpersonal attachment rupture.
A complete sense of well-being would be difficult with unmet attachment needs. Tending to our connection with the natural world seems to be no different.
One of the prerequisites for the training was to write a Nature Autobiography, considering questions such as:
What are the most vividly-remembered nature-related experiences from your past?
When you were younger, did you have special outdoor places you enjoyed?
What nature-related activities do you appreciate the most?
How has your relationship with nature changed over time?
Tip: You might enjoy exploring some of these questions in a journaling session.
After exploring the questions above, I realized that as a child, much of my time was spent playing outside, catching frogs, and climbing trees. But by the time I was in my 20s, being in nature mostly meant selecting the patio section when making brunch reservations.
Reconnecting with nature.
As I’ve gotten older and as my own healing work has progressed, I’ve become aware of an innate pull to enjoy more time outside. And instead of the need to listen to music or podcasts, I’m called to simply be present, whether watering plants in the yard or taking a walk.
One way I’ve been in the practice of tending to my natural connection is by finding small ways to live with and honor the rhythms of the season. As I write this, we’re in the midst of summer — just past the summer solstice and the peak of available light, energy, and long days. Flowers are blooming, vegetables are growing, and life has fully emerged from the push of spring. I’m tapping into the extra energy I’m feeling right now to release this writing project and share resources in a new way.
Here are two simple practices for you to reconnect with nature (and yourself) this summer:
Practice #1 - Write your own nature autobiography.
The practice of writing, in general, can create more clarity. Writing our own nature autobiography can lead to a greater understanding of where we’ve felt connected with the natural world in the past, what activities may nurture our connection now, and help us see the recurring threads or connecting points to nature that may be present throughout your story.
With the clarity that comes from writing your story, you may notice unique pathways for nurturing your attachment to nature today. You may also gain or regain a sense of the connection that has been there all along — the sense that we are nature.
It’s a well-researched phenomenon that feeling connected to something greater than ourselves, including nature, enhances our sense of well-being.
Here are some questions to consider as you outline your Nature Autobiography:
Are there younger parts of you who love or miss certain experiences of being outside?
Recall and briefly describe your most vividly-remembered nature-related experiences from the past. What memories do you have about specific aspects of nature, such as plants, animals, and the sky?
What invisible threads have connected you to nature throughout your life? These could be themes or repeated connection points. For example, some of mine are bodies of water, the sound of crickets and cicadas, sunsets, and the stars.
If your piece had a title, what would it be?
Thanks to the Center for Nature Informed Therapy for this practice.
Now that you’ve written your nature autobiography, I invite you to explore some simple, small ways that stand out, based on your threads of connection, that can intentionally help you engage with the natural world. For example, if stars are one of your threads, perhaps you make time for stargazing this week or plan a trip to the planetarium. If water is one of your threads, maybe it will add an element of calm to listen to water nature sounds while you work. Get creative with how you might like to nurture this connection.
Practice #2 - Notice how summer feels for you.
Maybe you feel an increase in energy during the long days of summer. Perhaps you’re noticing a strong pull to get outside, make plans, and connect with others.
Here are some questions to explore this summer:
What might be peaking in your life right now?
What do you have extra energy for?
What new things are you curious about?
You may not notice any of these things. Whatever you witness, be gentle with yourself, as being curious about our connection to these rhythms may be a completely new awareness. There are always reasons behind feeling how we feel. Many factors, including personal or systemic ones, can impact how we’re experiencing the current moment in nature’s cycle. Even if, in general, you’re feeling disconnected, there are some small, easy ways to spark moments of this seasonal sensation.
The benefits of being in nature are numerous.
We receive countless benefits from being in communion with the natural world. Exposure to the elements calms our nervous system and can foster a sense of well-being and connection to something greater than ourselves. And, extended exposure can reduce symptoms of depression and rumination and restore our fatigued attention.
Being in nature opens up a portal to experiencing awe, an emotion linked to decreasing stress. And a loving relationship with nature allows us to pay attention to the earth in a caring way, noticing the instinct to tread lightly and engage with reverence. As you might know, nothing feels better than reciprocity in our relationships, and our relationship with the natural world is no different.
Deepen your bond with nature.
Download the free 5-Day Nature Wellness Reset for more practices to help you get in touch with nature. Whether you’re returning to a beautiful relationship with the natural world or simply noticing its beauty for the first time, this guide will give you a simple practice each day.
