The shorter days of winter, accompanied with the cooler weather, can make us less likely to get our outdoor time. Many people who work during the day will find themselves going to work before the sun comes up and getting home after it gets dark. The dark and can be pretty uninviting to chill-out in (especially if you’ve been watching Stranger Things), so it’s no wonder so many choose to shun nature for the warmth of their comfy abodes during the cooler months.
The problem with that is that when we don’t get our nature time, we become un-grounded and unhappy. We feel more anxious and get a sense that something isn’t right. We feel unfulfilled.
Nature misses out too when we don't spend time in it. It misses out on receiving energy from us – whether it be from us giving attention to it and appreciating it, or from us releasing energy into it that no longer serves us.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to stay connected to nature in winter. Below are my top three. I find them easy to adopt on a daily basis.
1. Star gazing
If there’s one thing the dark is good for, it’s showing us the amazing beauty of the stars in the sky. So rug up, step outdoors and take in the wonder of those little twinklers. If you’re the kind of person who gets bored, try and locate as many constellations, satellites or planets as you can. You can even download apps on your phone to help you with identifying them now.
Cold, dry winter nights also tend to be very clear, so they are perfect for seeing the stars. Of course, the further you are away from city lights, the brighter the stars are. If you live in the middle of the city, you could make a night of going to a stunning star watching location.
If you’re really lucky, you might see a shooting star! (My word of advice if you are going to is to think of something good to wish for before you go outside, in case you see a shooting star and have the chance to ask for something awesome. I always forget and then can never think of anything good on the spot.)
It’s also been said that stargazing helps your third eye to develop! All the more reason to get out there and start staring into space.
2. Walking your dog barefoot
Yes, it might be a little cold. And yes, your feet might take a bit of time to harden up, but it’s worth it. No doubt walking your dog is already part of your daily routine (if you have one), so why not combine it with connecting to nature?
Walking barefoot is a fantastic way to connect and ground with the earth. It enables you to take on some of the negatively charged ions from the earth which helps you neutralise the positive charge you build up in normal, busy, indoor life. In addition, physically touching the earth allows you to take on some of the beneficial microbes that live in the soil and which improve your health.
The act of walking barefoot on uneven ground also stimulates all the different pressure points in your feet which are connected to all the organs throughout your body. When we only ever wear shoes or walk barefoot inside on flat surfaces, not all of the points on our feet get massaged and activated. So walking outdoors barefoot, helps our entire bodies to be healthier.
3. Take notice of what is happening outside
Perhaps you can hear the birds waking up and singing outside your window while you get ready for work. Maybe you notice a beautiful tree or flower on your way to work. Maybe you feel the cold breeze brush past you while you are in the street.
Taking notice of these things help you to snap out of your own head and into the present moment. That, in turn, helps you to calm down and become more grounded. Taking notice of the outside world also helps to remind you how wondrous nature really is.
Any time spent connecting with nature is good for you and the environment. It should be an absolute priority!
Do you have any tricks for connecting with nature in winter?