With 84% of the UK’s population living in urban areas, it’s no surprise many of us feel disconnected from nature. Did you spend more time outside as a child than you do today? And like me, did you watch the clock above the teacher's head in primary school longing for the bell to sound so you could get outside to play at break?! What's happened to our childhood connection with the great outdoors and why are so many of us choosing to have lunch at our desks now? I say, bring back excitement about getting outside at break time!
For lots of busy people the day follows the usual pattern: get up, leave home, go to work, come home again, go to bed. Your life's full to the brim with demands and there's not much time for anything else, especially when you add keeping a house ticking over. I get it's easy to skip stepping outside when your life's so hectic.
On top of this, the proof of a successful adult day is often linked with packing in as many hours as possible. Waking up earlier, powering through lunch, replying to emails and sitting in back-to-back meetings. This is the norm now - the constant striving to achieve more. The popular (and inaccurate) story of hustle hard from dawn to dusk because working hard equals productivity is automatic pilot for many.
Fresh air is the perfect antidote. It’s a magical tool that refreshes us. Getting outside can easily get your mind & body back online, while also helping reduce your stress and improve your mental health. And I don’t know about you, but I tend to get my big ideas and inspiration when I’m outside not doing a whole lot. The vastness of the sky seems to open our minds in a way a 2.8 metre ceiling just can’t. So if you’re in a slump or a negative loop, simply raising the roof above your head could help you to breathe a bit deeper and see things differently… I guess they don’t call it blue sky thinking for nothing!
A few minutes of sitting or walking outside works wonders. Step outside today, glance up at the sky, listen to birdsong, breathe fresh air deeply into your lungs - it’s simple, but it really works lift your day. Planning outdoor pauses in your day is highly unlikely to hold you back, in fact the opposite is true, research shows that pauses can boost your productivity and reduce your stress levels.
When you’re more connected to the natural world, you’re able to better cope with hard times, stress, anxiety and depression; but exactly the opposite happens when you only hop from home to work and back without fresh air in between. Think how easy it is to dwell on your problems when you stay at home, or how hard it can be to see beyond your stress when you spend too much time at the office. It doesn’t leave much room for fresh ideas. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with slumping down on the couch now and again after a hard day at work, but often, a good dose of natural light might be what you really need to recharge our mind & body.
Perhaps the disconnection comes from living your life under a ceiling rather than the sky, or under artificial light rather than sun, with the hum of computers and phone notifications as the soundtrack to your life? You and I both instinctively know this isn’t ideal, but it seems to be the environment most people find themselves living and working in today.
So how do we fix this? Well first off, we need to become more aware of our culture’s tendency to value busyness, how much we buy in to it, and at what expense. You might consider being busy at work means you’re successful, having a full social diary means you’re popular, and being busy with household demands, childcare responsibilities and life admin is a sign of your worth as a family member. But being busy and on the go all the time can mean you don’t have time in your life for the things that really make you happy. With our ‘busy being adults’ mindset turned on, we have unlearned our natural instincts to simply step outside each day, like we would have done as children.
Experiment with these natural habits to plant seeds of change over the next few weeks. See if you can build a better and more natural relationship between your head and heart and the world you're part of, then notice your well-being and mood soar.
OCTOBER, 2024
- Step outside first thing in the morning. Simply sit, listen and appreciate the natural world as it wakes up with you. If that’s not possible, then get outside for breaks - a short walk *without your phone* can recharge you for the afternoon.
- Think about where you eat your meals - what are you looking at? If it’s usually tech, then put it away. On nicer days, eat outside. It gives you a breather while regulating your nervous system at the same time.
- I know, the weather isn’t always on our side, so try to bring nature inside during the colder months if getting outside feels too much (but put on your coat and brave all kinds of weather if you can!). You don’t have to be green fingered, just go for it and add a few house plants to your spaces – it’s an easy way to bring life to your home & office.
- I bet when you exercise, it’s in a busy and sweaty room?! I wonder if you could take it outside when you’ve more time, like at weekends? Go running outdoors, walking, biking or sea swimming. Move outdoors rather indoors when you can!
- Rather than catching up with your friend in a coffee shop. Get take-outs and go a walk in a park instead. Our modern world makes it easy to be inside & sedentary for most of the week, but you can change it by meeting friends for walks instead.
- Ideally end your day as you started, with Nature. Step outside after dinner and mindfully observe the moon or stars in the sky. Practice gratitude as you look around – note what you appreciate in your day and the natural world: maybe the warmth of the sun, sound of the rain, brightness of the moon or the smell of freshly cut grass? Nature teaches us to slow-down and reflect on our lives, and be thankful for all that we have. Nature also helps steer our attention away from negativity and focus on the hidden treasures in the simple joys of life.
Natural Habits for your Wellbeing
I'm fully aware ‘get outside more’ seems too simple an idea to make a blog post about, but it’s surprisingly needed. I imagine you instinctively know most of it, but you might not have done many of these natural things in a long time. Here's your invite to reconnect with your childlike excitement for the outdoors and bring it back to life to thrive and feel happier.
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Wanna keep readin'?
Nature and me go way back. Growing up in the Irish countryside, my siblings and I were often shooed outside until dinner was ready, giving us endless hours of playtime. I didn't know it then, but those years of 'play' have shaped my outlook on mental health today.
As a teenager, I had the opportunity to go on outdoor expeditions and I remember on my first trek, the leader had us stop, take off our rucksacks, and sit quietly for ten minutes. A novel feeling of awe & gratitude washed over me - my first experience of deliberate mindfulness in nature.
University life pulled me indoors and away from nature, joining the surf club rekindled that connection. My first sunset surf was unforgettable, being a beginner didn't stop me from appreciating the glistening waves or the sound of the water against the surfboard; the moment took me out of my head & back into my body. Adventure sports often bring a quick connection to mind & body, making you feel truly alive. The university skydiving club did that for me - each jump was a wake-up call. But I've since learned through other practices that you don't need extreme sports to fully connect with your senses. Going on a 10-day silent retreat and doing my doctorate research on therapists' mindfulness helped me appreciate the soft, subtle sights & sounds of the present moment.
Rhythm Reset brings together evidence-based tools as well as my personal and professional skills to offer a new way of living well now (rather than waiting for your next holiday!). One that reconnects you with your needs and the simple rhythms & joys of everyday life.
Have we met? I'm Dr Kate
RHYTHM RESET
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Download the free steps PDF and use the list of break ideas to inspire your next break time, with space to add your own favourites, and a checklist to tick off as you go.
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