One reason we love mindfulness so much is that everyone is capable of it. Mindfulness is a universal human ability that is not only easy to learn, but can be found and practiced everywhere. It’s known as the practice of being aware of where we are and what we are doing in the present moment. Mindfulness is also about letting things such as noise, sound, smells, and thoughts pass without judgement. Like anything, leading a mindful life takes practice, but putting energy towards this can provide amazing health benefits.
Research has proven that both mindfulness and spending time in nature can significantly help people cope with all kinds of mental illness, including high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, addiction. This has been measured by the higher levels of serotonin and lower levels of cortisol in the brain found in individuals who engage in outdoor activity on a regular basis.
check out this research article Mindfulness and Loving-Kindness Meditation: Effects on Connectedness to Humanity and to the Natural World
In the above article, Aspy and Proeve outline how nature connectedness is a direct indicator of high life satisfaction. Nature provides us with tranquility and silence to awaken our senses, helping us slowdown, concentrate, and appreciate everything our world has to offer us.
Mindfulness can be formal and take a lot of time or or can be informal and brief. You can get far out into the wilderness where you are all alone or you can practice on the park bench outside of the office, in your backyard, in a community garden…really anywhere outside! Things such as feeling the grass, sun, or a gentle breeze on the face, listening to the song of birds, smelling nearby flowers, are all ways we can reconnect with nature and experience oneness with the natural world.
Let the Outside In – Sensory Awareness Exercise
mp3 download (length 12:36)
Different mindful activities we can engage in include yoga and meditation in the outdoors, adventuring such as hiking, climbing, backpacking through the woods, going on a neighborhood walk, gardening, drawing and painting in the outdoors, and even sitting. Mindful activities are not limited to this list and we encourage you to find your own practice to help you lead a healthier, more mindful lifestyle.