Take a Hike: Tips for Connecting With Nature

    There are tiny shoots from the recent rain poking through the dry grass that has gone to seed.  The earth, responding with green to even a small amount of water, is beginning its transition from fall into winter. This is the natural rhythm of the East Bay hills.  

    Walking along the trail I notice my own rhythms—my steps, my heartbeat, my breath.  I tune into the sounds of my footsteps, and the chatter and clatter of my mind fades away.  I stop hiking for a moment, and the quiet fills me.  There is just the sounds of the birds, the breeze on my skin.  I have been coming to this trail for over a decade, and the very fact of its being helps me settle.  The trail feels like an old friend, and when I hike it, or even bring it to mind I feel myself relax and connect with a basic sense of trust—in myself, and in the nature of how things are.  

    I don’t believe that there is a one-size-fits all approach to finding fulfillment or easing anxiety.  But I do believe that there are certain universals, and that the capacity to connect with and benefit from being in nature is one of them.  Being outdoors settles the nervous system and provides perspective.  Away from the distractions of urban life it is easier to focus.  In a place where trees root and reach for the sun, and where fallen leaves debris fertilize the next generation of plants, it is not difficult to find connection with growth and natural cycles.  In nature, we can remember that we are nature.  And just as we trust the placement of the trees and the movements of the birds, we can begin to trust our own inner impulses and experiences.      

    Here are a few ways to help develop a relationship with the natural world: 

   Start small.

    Find a few small ways to interact with nature.  Look at the sky on your walk to the bus and see if you can connect with a sense of spaciousness.  Eat your lunch under a tree noticing what it’s like to be in the presence of something so solid and strong.  Spend a few extra minutes petting your cat or dog.  Repot a plant.  Mindfully peel a piece of fruit, noticing the intricate geometry of its flesh.  Cook some vegetables. Listen to the rain.  Take a minute to look at the stars, especially at this time of year.  Even these little actions, if you pay attention, can connect you with nature.    

Make time to get away.

    Start small, but don’t stop there.  Carve out some time to get away and immerse yourself in nature.  Put it on your calendar.  Set an alarm.  Ask a friend to check in and hold you accountable.  Do whatever it is you need to to make sure that you do it.  Setting aside an hour or two may seem difficult when that time is taking away from everything else that you need to do.  Getting out in nature, or any form of taking care of yourself, is an investment.  Over time, it will pay off.  Notice the reasons you don’t want to go.  Recognize that it may feel easier or more comfortable not to do it.  And then, do it anyway.

    Try different things.

    Take a hike one weekend, head to the beach the next.  Find a river, or drive away from lights to look at the stars.  Notice the way that each of these experiences impacts you.  Notice what you are drawn back to.  Then do it again. 

   Take it in.

  Each time you notice the natural environment, take an extra moment to take it in.  Notice the impact it is having.  How does your body feel? What about the quality of your thoughts.  It can be nice to bring a notebook or journal along with you to help you track the experience of connecting with nature.  Try taking a few minutes at the start of your trip to write down how you feel.  It doesn't need to be much--a few words or phrases will do.  Do a quick impressionistic sketch of how you're feeling too.  Take a few breaths and feel inside, and just let your hand move.  Nobody will see it unless you show it to them, and you're not.  Then, when you are done with your visit, take a few minutes to write and draw again.  There will likely be a difference both in how it feels to reflect, and what it is that you are putting on paper.  Keep these over time, and review them as your relationship with nature deepens.