The Easiest Way to Boost Your Intuition: How Nature Is Your Secret Weapon to Feeling Your Best
We’ve all heard that we should put our screens down and spend more time in nature.
And you get it. Those rare times when you go to the beach or spend a night camping really do feel nice.
You remember noticing the fresh, clean air…
The beautiful scenery…
And how overall you just felt better.
It’s easy to just chalk it all up to– that was a great trip.
But here’s the thing… Science is showing that spending time in nature has proven benefits for our overall well-being.
It’s more than just nice– it’s necessary.
As someone who’s always lived in cities, it was normal to only spend time in nature on a weekend hike or yearly beach trip.
I never thought about getting outside and admiring the beauty around me during the work week.
But it all changed when I started dating my fiancé a few years back.
I started to notice how much better I felt at his house than mine.
His house is deep in the mountains, nestled in the forest trees, and just a 5 minute drive from a gorgeous lake.
We’d spend our weekends eating meals outside on the porch, picnicking at the lake, starting our own garden, and reading books in the hammock beneath the giant pine trees.
It wasn’t until I moved in that I started seeing the benefits so clearly. Far beyond– this feels nice.
Just a month after living in the mountains and spending the majority of my time in nature I noticed:
Increased focus on tasks– I'm way more productive
Increased joy and optimism about life
Better sleep– I’m getting 9 hours consistently
Increased creativity– I started painting and writing fiction
Less stress and anxiety
Feeling more active and wanting to make healthier food and lifestyle choices
Feeling more spiritually connected and a stronger sense of purpose in life
Physically what’s changed since moving to the mountains is:
My yoga practice deepened
My meditation and journaling practice increased
I crave daily walks
I cook more nourishing meals
I started actually writing the books I’ve thought about for years
All of these new practices were not formed out of discipline or a desire to be healthier.
I was naturally drawn to these healthier and more creative choices because by connecting with nature– I’m connecting to my truest/ highest self.
I get it.
Not everyone can just move to the mountains and work from home.
I’m here to share with you why it’s so important to prioritize getting out in nature at least 2 hours a week to experience the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.
Plus, how you can do it no matter where you live.
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Spending Time in Nature
Recent scientific research shows that there are life-changing health benefits linked to spending time in nature including:
Lowered blood pressure
Improved immune function
relieved mental health problems like depression and anxiety
Increased ability to fight cancer cells
In Japan, they use the term “forest bathing” to describe a 40 minute nature walk.
Researchers there proved that the nature walk resulted in lowered cortisol. High levels of cortisol– too much stress– is linked to high blood pressure and poor immune system function.
Another researcher in Japan found that plants produce aromatic compounds called phytoncides that when breathed in provide therapeutic benefits.¹
This is why we feel so good when we’re outside taking in the beauty with all our senses.
Nature calms our nervous system and allows us to release stress.
When your nervous system is working properly, you’re able to relax and wind down as the sun sets– improving the quality of your sleep.
We all know that enough quality sleep improves overall health.
The peace and serenity that nature provides helps you manage your emotions.
I’ve found that whenever I have a stressful call from work or an argument with a family member, a walk or even just sitting outside with my journal drastically increases my mood.
Even just a few minutes away from the stress, in the fresh air, calms and brings a sense of clarity that I never experienced with past coping strategies.
How a Spiritual Connection With Nature Is Healing
The human body comes from nature. It makes sense that you feel best when you’re immersed in it, taking in the aromas and sights that bring you home to yourself.
Being in nature allows you to align with your highest, most authentic self.
My most creative and inspiring ideas come when I’m surrounded by trees, flowers, insects, grass, and natural water.
It feels comforting and like you’re at home.
Studies show that being in nature actually helps people be more kind and generous with others.²
This is because when you’re looking at massive trees and powerful, natural waterfalls, you realize that you are a part of this beauty too– but such a small part in comparison.
This realization forces you to step out of your daily problems and see that your stress and problems really aren’t so big.
In these moments when you have these big realizations…
You’re surrounded by unexplainable beauty
Taking it all in
Listening to birds chirping and water rushing
You’re taking deeper breaths breathing in the natural aromatherapy
Your nervous system naturally calms.
You begin to notice little things like your heart beating, your muscles releasing tension, and your breath moving in and out.
Nature brings you into the present moment and grounds you in connection with who you really are.
Sometime during my childhood, I disconnected from my body as a coping strategy to feel safe.
When you’re disconnected from your body, you turn to numbing tools like binge eating and drinking, smoking, or getting involved in negative relationships.
Being outside more has allowed my body to tune in with nature which led me to reconnect with my own body.
I can finally hear my own intuition which is something I’d never understood before.
I can ask my body what it needs and it will tell me.
My body is naturally drawn to a healthy lifestyle.
I realized that I was unable to stop eating because I didn’t feel fullness. I craved sugar so I constantly needed a sugary coffee or chocolate snack throughout the day. I chugged alcohol instead of savoring each sip and stopping once I felt satisfied.
Connecting with nature allowed me to connect with my natural human body and treat it with love and care.
This connection allows you to live a full, joyful life where you can enjoy and savor the things you love without overdoing it to comfort or push away unresolved stress.
How to Connect With Nature and Strengthen Your Intuition
I’ve described how just being in nature– feeling the awe– naturally brings you home to your own body.
If you want to really go deep and intentionally connect with nature, here are 3 tips to practice next time you head into the forest.
1. Grounding
Grounding means getting skin to Earth contact.
This can be walking barefoot in the grass, laying down on the sand, or dunking your full body into a natural body of water.
When your body is in contact with Earth’s energy it renews your cells and restores your body to its natural state.
Feeling aligned with yourself and the Earth helps you heal and find peace.
2. Focus all your attention on each of your 5 senses
Sight: Scan the scenery and take it all in. Notice the massive trees swaying up in the sky or the way the water ripples. Admire it fully.
Smell: Focus all your attention on what you smell. It might be pine trees or the crisp, dewy scent of a waterfall.
Touch: Take time to focus on what your body feels. Is the wind cool hitting your skin? Or the grass soft and wet beneath your feet?
Hear: Spend time listening to the sounds of nature. Research shows that people who listen to bird songs decreased depression and anxiety symptoms.³
Taste: Can you taste any moisture in the air or even just notice your breath exhaling from your mouth? Hold your attention to your taste.
Deepen your breath and give your full attention to each sense for at least 60 seconds. It might feel silly at first but you’ll feel aligned and energized immediately after.
3. Look closely
When you go to a beach and look out at the ocean, the world seems so vast.
Same thing in the forest.
When you look up at thousands of massive trees— you feel awe and maybe a little overwhelmed by their greatness.
Bring yourself closer to it by examining a small part.
It could be a leaf, rock, or a single flower petal. Spend a couple of minutes admiring nature's beauty.
Remember, like the single leaf, your human body is a completely unique, small part of nature too.
We are naturally, deeply connected with nature– these tools will help you tap into that frequency.
What to Do if You Can’t Be in Nature
If you’re part of the 80% of Americans that live in a city, I know it’s not always so easy to spend time in nature.
Many of our jobs and lifestyles aren’t set up to allow for it.
If you know you’re going to be stuck inside all day, there are still ways to receive some of nature’s benefits.
1. Use essential oils
Diffusing natural oils in your room will give you the therapeutic benefits of being outside and breathing in the natural aromas of plants.
2. Listen to nature sounds
Turn your speaker on to play a calming nature playlist.
I do this every time I’m reading a book in bed to give the same calming effect of sitting out beneath the trees.
3. Play nature videos on your T.V.
I did this constantly before I moved to the mountains.
Watching a beautiful waterfall rushing or the incredible views of the forests and beaches in Indonesia brings you a wave of relaxation every time you look up from your computer.
As an elementary school teacher, I played nature videos and sounds every time my students worked on their own. You could feel the energy shift.
Studies show that by 2050, ⅔ of all humanity is expected to be living in cities.
As it becomes more and more of a challenge for people to be in nature, it continues to be the key to optimizing your physical and mental health.
Come Home to Yourself
Even if you don’t consider yourself an outdoorsy person, you can’t deny the healing power of nature.
I’m definitely not the type of person who would ever choose to camp out in a tent or even do a cold plunge in a frozen lake…
But connecting with Mother Earth– in whatever way feels natural for you– allows you to connect with your true self.
When you align yourself with the natural world around you, your body feels as it’s meant to– energized, healthy, vibrant, and peaceful.
When your body is at ease and functioning optimally, you’re free to show up in this world exactly as the person you’re meant to be.
Want more tips on how to change your mindset and be who you’re meant to be? Click here.
¹Sifferlin, A. (2016, July 14). The Healing Power of Nature. Time. https://time.com/4405827/the-healing-power-of-nature/ ²Jill Suttie, & Suttie, J. S. J. (n.d.-a). How nature can make you kinder, happier, and more creative. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_nature_makes_you_kinder_happier_more_creative ³Sima, R. (2023, May 18). Why birds and their songs are good for our mental health. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/interactive/2023/birds-song-nature-mental-health-benefits/ You may also like…
