It’s Time To Take The Green Pill

I’ve been wearing masks for much longer than the pandemic. After the skincare diagnosis, anytime I would run outside, or spend a day out on our boat, I had to cover my lips. It was either that or stay inside, which wasn’t going to happen. I loved the outdoors too much to give in to fear. So even though I looked ridiculous wearing this ugly SPF-fabric mask, I did so gratefully, thankful for the ability to be out in the sun. Being out in nature amidst some of the harder moments in life helps us get out of our heads and release whatever stress or traumatic situations we’re experiencing. It gives us the opportunity to release it as we look at the beauty surrounding us. And the statistics back this up. According to a study in Healing Gardens, more than two-thirds of people choose a natural setting to retreat to when stressed. The UltraWellness Center, a Massachusetts-based holistic health center using a Functional Medicine Approach, discusses how spending time outdoors is a great perspective-shifter, one that can allow us to reconnect with what’s really important. “Incorporating spending time outside on a daily basis will amplify these benefits tenfold!”

Below are a few simple ways that I stay connected with nature amidst even the busiest seasons (plus some health benefits that support these).

HOW DO I STAY CONNECTED?

Staying connected to nature can be a lot easier than we make it to be. Even if it’s just walking down your street and then back, the power of taking a short break to go breathe in the fresh air is huge.

• Take A Cold Shower

Cold showers are a wonderful way to reduce stress levels, almost shocking you into a better attitude. They’re known to increase levels of alertness, stimulating you to take deep breaths, decreasing the level of CO2 in your body, which helps concentration. There are all sorts of other benefits, like weight loss, improved circulation, a robust immune system, and even increased willpower. I end each day taking a cold shower, starting off by gradually adjusting the temperature to get cooler and cooler. If I’m having a really rough day or am in a hurry, I immediately start with the water being icy cold.

• Eat The Rainbow

What we eat plays a huge role in staying connected to nature, letting nutrients grown from the earth replenish and fuel us. I always have fresh berries stocked in my fridge, among other fruits like papayas (my favorite!) and mangos. Even if it’s a simple side dish roasting veggies with some olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs in the oven, my body always thanks me -- a happy full.

One simple way to incorporate more fruits and veggies is by committing to eat the rainbow each day. Maybe it’s strawberries, sweet potatoes, squash, kale, blueberries, and beets one day. Choose your favorite (or try a new) red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple fruit/vegetable with your next meal, and let your body feel refueled and energized by these bits of nature packed with all sorts of wonderful nutrients.

• Take A Digital Detox

Unplugging from your phone and other digital devices to actually look, hear, and feel your surroundings is a key component of staying grounded. Whenever I go for a stroll, I often leave my phone and headphones at home. Walking out into the quiet, and really engaging in everything beneath, beside, in front, and above me is incredibly restorative.

• Walking Barefoot

I don’t do this enough. Letting my feet wander through the grass, water, or sand is not only soothing, but is a constant reminder of life surrounding me. It instills a sense of gratitude in me, connecting me to the earth. (In fact, this is often called earthing!)

• Stick To A Routine

Make it a habit to be out in nature. Even if it has to be short and sweet, I always grab my morning cup of coffee (sometimes tea), walk outside, and start my day. I let one simple pause outside reground me and my day, taking the time to be still and let my natural surroundings teach me. I love how Dr. Mark Hyman puts it in one of his podcasts:

If we take the time to be quiet, still, and curious, there’s an immeasurable amount of knowledge to be gained from our natural surroundings. In watching grazing animals and their food choices, we see they know how to personalize their nutritional intake to eat plants that match their exact needs. Though many of us have lost our innate wisdom to eat intuitively, upping our intake of phytochemicals and reducing processed foods means we can recalibrate our cravings to lean towards what we truly need.

There’s Power In Staying Connected

Whether you begin to implement just one of these or all five, the environment is a great (free!) stress-reliever -- medicine for the soul. There’s power in allowing the forest trees, lake ripples, and cloudy skies to reset our minds and restore a sense of balance amid some of the more chaotic seasons. Nature’s a healthy escape -- always present and always awaiting our active presence.

Regina ♥