Spending time in nature has many benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, and helping people feel more connected to their environment. Even if you live in a city or have a busy schedule, there are simple ways to enjoy nature every day. You don’t have to be a hiking expert or live near a forest to appreciate the natural world. This guide shows easy, affordable, and practical ways to include a little nature in your daily routine.
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Take a Daily Walk Outside
One of the easiest and most impactful ways to enjoy nature is by taking a walk. Whether it’s a stroll around your block or a walk through a local park, being outdoors even for 10–15 minutes can improve your mood and help you feel refreshed.
- Cost: Free
- Products/Services to Try: Comfortable walking shoes like Skechers GOwalk or New Balance Walking Shoes
- Benefits: Encourages daily physical activity, reduces anxiety, and gives you an opportunity to observe trees, birds, and fresh air
Create a Mini Garden at Home
Gardening doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. A few small pots on a windowsill or balcony can turn your living space into a greener environment. You can grow flowers, herbs, or even small vegetables with minimal investment.
- Cost: Under $50 for pots, soil, and starter plants
- Products to Consider: AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden, planters from IKEA or Home Depot, Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
- Benefits: Adds beauty to your space, introduces natural scents, and provides satisfaction from nurturing plants
Open Your Windows and Let Nature In
It sounds simple, but just opening your windows can bring nature closer to you. Natural sunlight, fresh air, and the sounds of birds or the wind help you connect with the outdoors even if you're inside your home or office.
- Cost: Free
- Tips: Try opening windows during early morning or late evening for cooler breezes and more natural sounds
- Benefits: Improves indoor air quality, reduces stress, and provides natural light which boosts vitamin D
Use Nature Sounds or Scenery Indoors
If you can't find time to go outside, try bringing nature indoors through sound and visuals. Studies show that hearing nature sounds can help you relax, focus, and feel less stressed—just like actually being outside.
- Cost: Free to $30
- Products and Apps to Try: Calm or Headspace apps, YouTube nature videos, or sound machines like HoMedics SoundSpa
- Benefits: Promotes mental wellness, improves focus during work or study, and helps ease anxiety
Eat Outdoors When Possible
Taking time to eat breakfast, lunch, or even a snack outside is a great way to appreciate nature. You can sit on a balcony, porch, or local park bench. The simple act of eating outdoors can make you feel more relaxed and energized.
- Cost: Free—just take your food with you
- Services to Enjoy: Local cafes with outdoor seating, public parks with picnic tables
- Benefits: Boosts mood, creates mindful eating habits, and offers a break from screens and indoor distractions
Practice Nature Photography
Nature photography is a fun hobby and a great way to pay attention to the world around you. You don't need an expensive camera—a smartphone works fine. Focus on flowers, trees, birds, clouds, or any natural scenes you find interesting.
- Cost: Free if using a phone, or $100+ for beginner cameras
- Products to Consider: Smartphone camera lenses, Nikon Coolpix B500, Canon PowerShot SX420
- Benefits: Boosts creativity, helps develop mindfulness, and provides lasting memories of time spent in nature
Try Outdoor Exercise
Exercising outside combines the benefits of being active with those of spending time in natural surroundings. Activities can include jogging, yoga in a park, or simple stretching in your backyard or a nearby field.
- Cost: Free to low-cost
- Products to Enhance the Experience: Yoga mats, resistance bands, fitness apps like Nike Training Club
- Benefits: Improves fitness, reduces stress, and increases vitamin D through sun exposure
Visit Local Parks and Green Spaces
Most communities have parks, gardens, or other public green areas. Plan short visits during your lunch break or on weekends. Some parks also offer free events like birdwatching walks or gardening clubs you can join.
- Cost: Mostly free
- Services to Explore: National Parks, city gardens, local arboretums, nature trails
- Benefits: Provides fresh scenery, increases physical and mental activity, and connects you with your community
Set Up a Bird Feeder or Bird Bath
Watching birds is a relaxing and educational way to interact with nature. You can attract birds to your backyard or balcony by setting up a basic bird feeder or bird bath. Watching them come and go provides entertainment that doesn’t involve screens.
- Cost: $10–$50 depending on the type of feeder or bath
- Recommended Items: Perky-Pet Bird Feeders, Audubon bird seed, hanging bird baths
- Benefits: Encourages interest in wildlife, provides a calming backdrop, and can be fun for kids and adults alike
Conclusion: Make Nature Part of Your Life
Nature is all around us, and enjoying it doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. By finding creative ways to include natural experiences in your daily life—like walking outside, growing plants, listening to birds, or just taking in the view—you can gain many mental and physical benefits. Whether you spend 5 minutes or an hour, taking time for nature each day can make a big difference in how you feel. Don’t wait for a special vacation or a trip to the mountains; start appreciating the world outside your window today.
Sources:
- “How Nature Affects Mental Health” – American Psychological Association (apa.org)
- “Nature and Human Health” – U.S. National Library of Medicine (nlm.nih.gov)
- “Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors” – Harvard Health Publishing (health.harvard.edu)
- “Simple Ways to Connect with Nature Daily” – National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org)
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