Do something simple and fun
Remember, you don't have to plan a complicated camping trip in order to have an enriching experience in nature! Make plans to experience the outdoors without commuting several hours, and instead search for something easy to enjoy outside that meshes well with your schedule.
Even if you're right in the heart of a busy metropolis, every area has something to offer when it comes to connecting with nature activities. What do you consider enjoyable? Factor that into choosing your outdoor activity, and see what's doable!
If you know there are hiking trails nearby, go out and do some exploring! Bring your family, a friend, or an excited pet to keep you company, or choose to have a solo adventure. Either way you will be making good use of the landscape around you, even if you're simply sitting in your garden admiring the plants you worked so hard to nurture.
Choose to stay somewhere scenic
Choose to stay somewhere scenic
If you're looking to have a more profound relationship with nature, make sure your accommodation of choice includes an amazing view! Nowadays, there are so many ways to find unique accommodation anywhere that it's easy to access alternative, outdoor-friendly accommodation. Go glamping, find a cabin rental tucked away in the woods or a small beach house overlooking the ocean.
With so much open space and peaceful scenery wherever you look, it will be easier to keep nature on the brain. This type of environment will encourage you to slow down as you travel and will ultimately give you more patience as you tackle each new day.
Embracing nature through your accommodation choices enhances your travel experience and fosters a deeper connection to the environment. Waking up to birds chirping or waves crashing creates a sense of tranquility that's rare in daily life. Such serene settings inspire mindfulness, reduce stress, and promote well-being, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty around you.
Participate in a Worldpackers ecological program
Participate in a Worldpackers ecological program
Related to staying somewhere scenic is the option to participate in an ecological program. If you want to be fully immersed in the great outdoors, working with an ecological project is a great way to connect with nature hands-on while practicing responsible travel.
Worldpackers ecological projects offer numerous ways to connect with nature. With nearly 700 opportunities to work across six continents, and the projects on offer cover everything from organic farming to permaculture to conservation to restoration to sustainable living and eco-tourism. These projects allow you to really experience the benefits of connecting with nature while learning new skills and being part of a collaborative community.
Experiencing your destination through a Worldpackers eco program is also one of the best ways to give back to local communities and make sustainable travel a reality.
Research popular and local outdoor spots nearby
Research popular and local outdoor spots nearby
From popular national parks to your local swimming hole, there's bound to be somewhere to enjoy the outdoors wherever you may roam!
The great thing about including the outdoors on your itinerary is that it's often very low-cost. Camping in a national forest is usually free, and be sure to ask your friends if they have any useful outdoor equipment like tents, kayaks, or hiking poles that you can bring with you on your journey so you can avoid renting costs.
Everyone connects differently, whether you're alone, in a tour group, with a savvy stranger, or with those closest to you. Choose what you know will benefit your experience the most, and follow through with it.
Practice mindfulness, and then take it outside
Practice mindfulness, and then take it outside
Mindfulness means cultivating a heightened sense of awareness while striving to be more present. Meditating is one of the biggest ways to practice mindfulness, which requires a quiet space to sit and reflect.
What better way to do this than in nature? Keep a section of your travel journal blank to record the insights, feelings, and thoughts that come to you when you're practicing mindfulness in nature.
Write down the goals you have or the ways you hope to grow closer to nature, and see what progress you make! Connecting with nature is a fantastic form of self-care.
Try learning a new outdoor skill
Try learning a new outdoor skill
One way to make sure you are always taking time out for nature is to spend some time learning a new outdoor hobby. This will help you step out of your comfort zone, challenge you to try something new and exciting, and deepen your knowledge for all things outdoors.
You might decide to try rock climbing or be a part of a guided kayaking tour. If it's winter, you could take advantage of the area's climate by learning how to ski or snowboard. Learning new outdoor skills like these will open the doors to new ways of enjoying the various destinations you will visit throughout your life.
Use nature to reset and recharge
Use nature to reset and recharge
It's been proven that spending time in nature increases one's overall strength and enthusiasm for life. Not only are you getting a good physical workout in, you are grounding yourself mentally and forging a spiritual bond with the world around you and your inner self.
It's true that being connected with nature serves us many benefits, and one of the best ones is that it creates a huge shift in our perspective. Our minds are opened and all our senses are actively engaged with our surroundings. We are able to see what a small space we occupy in the world and can better appreciate the role nature plays in our lives.
Connecting with nature to care for ourselves and the earth is grounding and restorative. Feeling the sun on your face and breathing in some much-needed fresh air can help us feel alive, inspired, and offers us a unique opportunity to pursue adventures authentically and naturally.
