Nature - Going Outside

the 14th Stress Management Technique

In Your Relaxed-and-At-Ease
Guide to Stress Management Techniques

When I go outside, with consciousness and intention, and I notice

• the wind on my skin,
• the heat from the sun or the chill in the breeze,
• the colors of the leaves and the trees,
• the birds chirping and flying by...

Then I am reminded of the pulse of the earth, it's creatures, and a sense that every thing is all right in the world.

When I take the time to do this I feel balanced, reconnected to Source, relaxed, and centered.

I haven't always been so in tune with nature.

I grew up in Florida. It's hot there. So when I wasn't laying on the beach or by the pool working on my tan, I stayed inside a lot and used the air conditioner.

I learned to dislike extreme heat and cold.

About ten years ago, I was exposed to the idea that we are part of the organic flow of the five seasons and I began to wonder about my discomfort with heat and cold.

And as part of some classes I took at the Inspiration Consciousness School , I had the opportunity to sleep outside under the stars. WOW!!!

This began a change in me that just keeps evolving.

I now sleep with my windows cracked almost year round. I LOVE IT!

If I'm not outside, I love feeling connected with Earth and it's creatures by having the windows open.

When I go outside... Here are some things I do...

1. Just walk outside for a few minutes in the middle of my day. It's a great de-stressor.
2. Go for a walk in my neighborhood or in a near by park.
3. Tend my garden - weeding is very therapeutic.
4. Bike or hike - check out this website with helpful hints about how to improve your outdoor adventure life including hiking or trekking
5. Sit on the grass... sit under a tree.

I recommend that when you go outside - really experience it. Pause... notice the sky and the clouds, feel the temperature, touch the earth, notice the color of the leaves, breathe deeply.

Given that being in nature activates the relaxation response in me, I looked for some information about the effects of being outside on stress. So far this is the information I've found...

This link has information about a study that indicates that being in nature - or pictures of nature - improves cognitive functioning.

This article provides some useful information about how being in the sun is good for us.

I'll keep searching and post what I find. If you have good information about the positive impact of being outside, please send it to me.