More ways to give your day a big boost
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Weathered park bench. © given photography 2021
This is a continuation of my last post, Five simple ways to give your day a big boost. With so much turmoil in our world right now, it’s important to be aware of how we are feeling. If you’re like me, you could be feeling yet again, a little overwhelmed and asking yourself “what can I do to help?” Taking the time to self-nurture is critical to get to a place of resolution. When you feel better you make good decisions, you take solution-oriented actions, and don’t feel so helpless or frustrated. In a nutshell, you feel more empowered. So here are more simple ways rooted in nature to keep yourself in a positive and compassionate frame of mind and moving forward, despite the horrendous happenings.
Find presence in nature. Settling into a beautiful natural surrounding is an easy way to be present. Find a quiet place to sit. Take a few deep breaths and focus on your surroundings. Use all of your senses and then some. The soft breeze or warm sun on your face, the rough surface under your feet, birds calling, mingling earthy aromas. Nowhere to go, nothing to do. Just this wonderfully calming present moment.
Get grounded. Find a place to sit, stand, or lie outside. It could be your own backyard. Feel the solidness of the earth beneath you. Imagine that you have roots growing deep into the ground. Let your thoughts go and keep your attention on the solid earth supporting you. Imagine that you are drawing her strength into you. Soon you’ll really feel her energy and the underlying strength that is always there just for you.
Tap into the energy of spring to start a new habit. Choose one thing and make it doable. Here are some ideas…
Drink your morning coffee, tea, or lemon water outside.
Take a five minute walk every afternoon when you hit the mid-day slump around 3 pm.
Just be in nature one day per week. No agenda, just follow your intuition. You can sit on a park bench or explore a green space near your home—whatever feels good. This is a great way to start connecting with nature.
Notice one thing in nature every day and write it down or snap a photo. This simple habit will build over time, bringing you much joy.
Walk outside every morning, take a few deep cleansing breaths, and feel gratitude for something or someone in your life. It can be as simple or complex as you want. Just listen to your heart. A wonderful way to set the tone for your day.
Look up. It’s always amazing what you see when you look to the sky. In the forest, birds flitting about or a giant bird’s nest. Beautiful tree branches creating their own artful displays. At the beach, an infinite sky with birds flying high as they make their way to their next stop. And clouds, glorious clouds that always inspire the imagination. You will feel instantly uplifted as a whole new world above opens up.
Watch a sunrise with excitement. Start your day by watching the sun come up. This simple act will bring gladness to your heart and invigorate you for the rest of the day.
You can’t save the world but you can love mother earth. Let her nourish you. Love her gifts to us—an ocean shore, a singing bird, a brilliant red berry, or a lush forest. Once you love her, you will protect her and make choices to live in harmony with her. It’s something you can do that benefits all of us.
Spend time alone in nature. A natural energy will quell your anxiety, helping worrisome thoughts disappear. Before you know it, you will be feeling calmer and present. You’ll be more interested in your surroundings than the negative thoughts that have been persisting. Do it often and you’ll find it your go-to-place to feel better. It can be your own backyard, a rooftop patio, or a nearby park. The surrounding beauty nourishes you in so many ways.
