Sometimes I spend less time outdoors than I’d like to, especially in the winter.  Can you relate?  Are you feeling cooped up indoors at the moment?  Do you get energized with excitement at the thought of running in a t-shirt (outdoors!) again?

In today’s blog, I have 7 ways you can get closer to nature every single day – even when you don’t have a 7-day backpacking adventure into the wilderness on your list of things to do this month!

Being close to nature is so important for our health – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s a simple, natural, and effective strategy against chronic stress, nervous system dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, and many common health disorders.

In other words…

Being close to nature is an important part of the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and moving your body.

7 Ways to Get Closer to Nature Everyday

Grow plants

Many types of plants can filter out volatile organic compounds in the air, and since indoor air is typically far more polluted than outdoor air, house plants are a colorful addition that bring better health.  Aloe is an easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent that helps clear formaldehyde, which can be a byproduct of chemical-based cleaners and paints. Place an aloe plant in your sunny kitchen window, and as a bonus, the gel inside an aloe plant can help with cuts and burns! Bamboo palm, Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema Crispum ‘Deborah’), and Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) are other great choices for filtering indoor air.

Rocks and crystals 

I happen to love these creek stones I found in the woods with inspiring words and phrases I wrote on them.  I’ll admit that the aesthetic qualities of rocks and crystals is a big part of the reason I set them around the house and in my work space.  Yet a crystal is so much more than a pretty rock — crystals have various energetic qualities to support our well-being.  Find a great rock shop or store and learn about specific benefits of each crystal.  White howlite can support restful sleep.  Fluorite protects against electromagnetic (computer, cell phone) stress.  Amethyst is meditative and calming. Clear quartz is powerful and versatile.  It enhances energy by absorbing, balancing, and storing.

Make herbal teas and grow herbs

Grocery stores and markets are full of boxes of herbal teas, and many of them are wonderful to brew up a hot cup at home.  But why not grow your own?  Growing herbs is simple — not to mention you’ll have more plants on your window sill to help filter indoor air and improve air quality.  You can use fresh herbs, or dry them to store in mason jars and brew your own tea.  I also like to use essential oils to make my own tea.  These are similar to herbs but more concentrated, so 1 drop goes a long way as far as the flavor, and most importantly, the therapeutic benefits!  Some of my favorites are lemon, peppermint, ginger, and fennel.  Contact me if you’d like to try some essential oils and make your own tea!

Diffuse essential oils 

Using essential oils aromatically is an effective way to support mood, clean the air, and support respiratory health. Use low or no-heat diffusion to protect the chemical structure of the oil being diffused and get the most benefit. Citrus oils like grapefruit, lemon, orange, and lime are stimulating and energizing.  Orange is also helpful for uplifting the mood.  For relaxation and meditation, try frankincense or sandalwood.  I like eucalyptus to clear congestion in the air and my sinuses.  Contact me to find out more about getting your own essential oils.

Go barefoot or earthing

Direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth is extremely important for our bodies to function well.  Our modern lifestyle separates us from such contact, yet research suggests that this disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness.  ‘Nature as medicine’ gets a whole new meaning when you look at the evidence of being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive system. Read more in this article I wrote about earthing.

Open the windows and get fresh air

Even in the winter when the house is closed up, I open the doors or windows periodically to clear the indoor air.  You can’t tap into vitamin D from the sun if you don’t expose your skin outdoors either, so take a moment and step outside for some fresh air!  Try this outdoor workout in your back yard and get a workout in at the same time.

Go for a walk or workout outdoors

The climate-controlled indoor workout at home or at the gym may have its appeal to some, but for the adventurous nature-loving runners, cyclists, and athletes – outdoor workouts are definitely at the top of the list.  In this study comparing the exertion of running on a treadmill and the exertion of running outside, treadmill runners expended less energy to cover the same distance as those striding across the ground outside.  When you workout indoors, you face no wind resistance or changes in terrain.  What about enjoyment?  Does participating in physical activity in outdoor natural environments have a greater effect on physical and mental wellbeing than physical activity indoors?  Check out this review of several research studies, which shows promising effects on self-reported mental wellbeing immediately following exercise in nature, which are not seen following the same exercise indoors.  FREE sample of my outdoor Inspire Workout here – let’s move!