I believe that connecting to nature can bring joy, satisfaction, and meaning to one’s life – because it has done so for me.

My husband, Chad, who is a certified wildman, provided some suggestions of his own and I added them to this list as well.

So here you go, over one hundred ideas for connecting to nature – making oneself more comfortable and at home in the natural world, as well as more part of the natural world.

Bring Nature Indoors

[auto-list-number] Choose breathable natural bedding (wool, cotton, hemp) instead of synthetic.

[auto-list-number] Gradually replace plastic furnishings, decor, and storage in your home with alternatives made from organic materials such as wood, rattan, or wicker.

[auto-list-number] Grow live houseplants – choose non-toxic options if you have pets.

[auto-list-number] Open windows in your home when possible to allow fresh air in and reduce pollutants and CO2.

[auto-list-number] Opt for a natural couch instead of a synthetic one.

[auto-list-number] Sleep in a bedroom that is slightly cooler than the rest of your home for more restful slumber.

[auto-list-number] The next time you need a new mattress, buy one made of natural materials such as natural latex and wool.

[auto-list-number] Use as much natural daylighting in your home as you can to align yourself with the natural rhythms of the sun.

Connect with Your Wild Side

[auto-list-number] Climb a tree.

[auto-list-number] Howl at the moon.

[auto-list-number] Spend more time with your pets on their terms – napping, playing, or cuddling with them.

Cultivate a Healthy Gut Microbiome

[auto-list-number] Avoid antibiotics unless absolutely necessary – there are alternatives.

[auto-list-number] Avoid foods with artificial ingredients.

[auto-list-number] Learn to ferment for your gut health.

[auto-list-number] Make it a goal to eat 40 different fruits or veggies every week.

[auto-list-number] Take a stool test and get to know the state of your gut microbiome.

Cultivate Basic Survival Skills

[auto-list-number] Learn to build a fire.

[auto-list-number] Learn to purify water.

[auto-list-number] Learn to tell directions outdoors using the sun, stars, and landmarks.

[auto-list-number] Use a topographic map instead of a GPS while hiking.

Cultivate Natural Energy Connections

[auto-list-number] Create a low-EMF environment in your home, for a more natural, healing background energy.

[auto-list-number] Lay down on the ground in your yard, garden, or a park, and rest.

[auto-list-number] Sleep on an earthing sheet.

[auto-list-number] Walk around outside barefoot to ground yourself.

Get to Know the Sky

[auto-list-number] Don’t use security lights at your house outside at night. They disturb wildlife and water down your view of the night sky.

[auto-list-number] Get up early once in a while to watch the sunrise.

[auto-list-number] Know the cardinal directions – East, West, South and North.

[auto-list-number] Learn a few constellations.

[auto-list-number] Look up at the sky and watch the clouds change.

[auto-list-number] Stop what you’re doing and watch the sunset.

[auto-list-number] Watch a meteor shower.

[auto-list-number] Watch an eclipse.

[auto-list-number] Watch the sunset at the same place for solstices and equinoxes.

Get to Know Your Local Flora and Fauna

[auto-list-number] Attract birds to your yard.

[auto-list-number] Find out about endangered species in your area.

[auto-list-number] Identify the bugs and spiders you encounter in your home.

[auto-list-number] In spring and summer, spend time watching insects forage from plants in your yard or at a nearby park.

[auto-list-number] Landscape with native plants in your yard.

[auto-list-number] Learn bird calls.

[auto-list-number] Learn how to recognize animal footprints.

[auto-list-number] Learn to be safe from wild animals while recreating.

[auto-list-number] Learn to identify bird nests.

[auto-list-number] Learn to recognize calls from other animals besides birds, like those of coyotes, foxes, elk, and raccoons.

[auto-list-number] Learn to spot invasive species in your area.

[auto-list-number] Make a list of all the birds you see at your birdfeeder.

[auto-list-number] Make an inventory of all the different animals you observe in your yard.

[auto-list-number] Set up and maintain a bird feeder.

[auto-list-number] Set up and maintain a hummingbird feeder.

[auto-list-number] Start an inventory of all the different types of insects you find in your yard – or in a nearby park, if you don’t have a yard.

[auto-list-number] Start an inventory of all the different types of plants you find in your yard.

[auto-list-number] Visit a protected landscape such as an old growth forest.

Hone Your Senses

[auto-list-number] Be alone in nature to allow yourself to just be and observe.

[auto-list-number] Draw sketches in nature.

[auto-list-number] Get to know what time it is without looking at a clock.

[auto-list-number] Go for a hike at night.

[auto-list-number] Keep a nature journal.

[auto-list-number] Sit by moving water and listen.

[auto-list-number] Try identifying plants with a key instead of just using an app on your phone.

[auto-list-number] Try wearing shoes with minimal support, such as moccasins.

[auto-list-number] Turn your phone off when in nature or put it in airplane mode.

[auto-list-number] Walk in a stream or dip your feet in cold water.

[auto-list-number] While in nature, close your eyes and listen.

[auto-list-number] While in nature, hold your ears and just look.

[auto-list-number] While in nature, rub a leaf of a fragrant plant and smell it.

Learn and Accept the Natural Cycles

[auto-list-number] Create your own rituals to mark the change of the seasons.

[auto-list-number] Cultivate a better relationship with death.

[auto-list-number] Dress for the seasons.

[auto-list-number] Eat with the seasons.

[auto-list-number] Find a favorite place where you can observe nature and go there in different seasons to observe seasonal changes.

[auto-list-number] Keep your home somewhat closer tohe outdoor temperature instead of expecting the indoor temperature to be the same year round.

[auto-list-number] Landscape for the seasons, planting shade trees to block summer sun, and evergreen trees to block winter winds.

[auto-list-number] Learn about natural burial options.

[auto-list-number] Look for animal remains while hiking.

[auto-list-number] Watch an animal give birth.

Learn about Local Native Traditions

[auto-list-number] Learn how native people in your area dressed traditionally.

[auto-list-number] Learn how native people in your area sheltered themselves.

[auto-list-number] Learn the creation stories of the native people in your area.

[auto-list-number] Learn what native people in your area ate traditionally.

Look at the Big Picture

[auto-list-number] Find out where your drinking water comes from.

[auto-list-number] Get involved to protect your local public lands or environment.

[auto-list-number] Get to know your ecological history.

[auto-list-number] Learn about your watershed.

[auto-list-number] Look at satellite images of your area.

Respect Your Body’s Needs

[auto-list-number] Allow your body to wake up naturally every morning.

[auto-list-number] Avoid screen use for a couple of hours before bedtime.

[auto-list-number] Build more leisure into your life. No one on their death bed wishes they had worked more.

[auto-list-number] Choose a job that allow you to have the daily rhythm your body needs.

[auto-list-number] Don’t fall asleep watching TV or looking at your phone – make your bedroom for sleep.

[auto-list-number] Go for a run, just for fun.

[auto-list-number] If you have a sedentary job, get up and walk around every hour or so.

[auto-list-number] Make yoga or other stretching a part of your daily routine.

[auto-list-number] Remove digital light displays from the bedroom to prevent them from disturbing your sleep.

[auto-list-number] Route out sources of white noise from your living space.

[auto-list-number] Sit on the floor and do some deep breathing.

[auto-list-number] Swing from a jungle gym.

Spend More Time Outdoors

[auto-list-number] Go camping.

[auto-list-number] Go on a picnic, even if it’s in your own back yard, or set up a table and chairs where you can eat outdoors on a regular basis.

[auto-list-number] Go outside at night and look at the stars.

[auto-list-number] Go outside. Period.

[auto-list-number] Make a goal for outdoor recreation – once a week, once a month, etc.

[auto-list-number] Rather than traveling to far off places, explore public lands where you live.

[auto-list-number] Take a course on leave-no-trace to learn how to lessen your impact.

Understand Where Food Comes From

[auto-list-number] Grow some of your own food – start where you can.

[auto-list-number] Grow sprouts – you can do this on your kitchen countertop.

[auto-list-number] Learn about wild foods and weeds that are edible in your area.

[auto-list-number] Learn to cook from scratch.

[auto-list-number] Make food from scratch rather than using processed foods.

[auto-list-number] Plant a fruit tree for a perennial source of food for generations to come.

[auto-list-number] Start plants in your garden from seed instead of just buying transplants.

[auto-list-number] Start your own transplants.

[auto-list-number] Visit a local farm to see how food is produced.

Use Natural Healing Strategies

[auto-list-number] Find natural remedies for minor ailments for your pets.

[auto-list-number] Heal yourself with natural remedies whenever possible.

[auto-list-number] If you’re unhappy with the state of your health, enlist the help of holistic practitioners to guide your healing journey.

[auto-list-number] Seek out the root cause of illness rather than relying on pharmaceuticals to “manage” symptoms.

[auto-list-number] Understand how retraining your limbic system may be imperative for healing.

There’s our list! How many are you already doing? Have any additional recommendations? If I love them, I’ll add them to this list, so drop me a note in the comments section.

 

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