8 Ways To Reconnect With The Earth + Immerse Yourself In Nature
With our busy schedules and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to become disconnected from the natural world around us. From spending hours inside working on a computer to mindlessly scrolling on social media, most of us don’t realize the negative effects this sedentary indoor lifestyle can have on our physical, emotional, and mental health.
However, by making a conscious effort to reconnect with the earth we can experience the wide range of health benefits that go hand in hand with spending time in nature. In fact, the health benefits of nature are so powerful, doctors in Canada can actually write a prescription for nature through the PaRx program which gives their patients a free Canada Parks Discovery Pass.
Although I can’t write the same prescription, what I can do as a functional medicine expert is show you how easy it is to harness all the cool benefits nature has to offer. These are a few of my favorite ways you can bring more nature into your life today.
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1. Try forest bathing
Known as shinrin-yoku in Japan, forest bathing and spending time in nature has been shown to help lower stress hormones like cortisol, (1) calm inflammation levels, (2) and improve a variety of other biomarkers involved in overall health.
Since most of us can’t spend hours hiking every day, I recommend carving out 10-15 minutes of uninterrupted time outside. For me, I take a walk during lunch without my phone or any other distractions. Even better, take your lunch outside instead of eating in front of your computer so you can get back to work as quickly as possible. Work can wait. Your health can’t.
2. Find your own God art
If you follow me on Instagram, you’re familiar with God art. Whether it’s a colorful sunset, sunrise, or the waves of an ocean, nature and its artwork is all around us. Sometimes all it takes to reconnect to the Earth is opening our eyes and expressing gratitude for the beauty that has been in front of us all along.
A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Psychology (3) found that when people expressed gratitude for nature, it lead them to be more environmental in their actions by increasing their willingness to sacrifice and protect the environment. Plus, gratitude has been linked to its own set of health benefits such as reduced (4) pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-a!
2. Surround yourself with purposeful plants
Raise your hand if you are a proud plant parent! Houseplants are one of the most obvious ways to connect with nature by bringing the outside in. Take it a step further and choose plants that pull double duty by purifying the air inside your house. Spider plant is one of my favorites that requires minimal light and water and has been shown (5) to purify the air by removing harmful gasses like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
3. Eat seasonally
With the rise of box stores, grocery delivery, and meal kits, most of us have become so disconnected from the food we eat on a daily basis. Even if we are making an effort to buy local and organic, the way we access food nowadays is a far cry from how our ancestors lived for thousands of years. Instead of having whatever produce available to them 24/7, people had to rely on what they could grow and harvest each season in their own climate.
Not only will buying whatever is in season taste better, it will force you to try produce that you might not eat otherwise. This will help keep your immune system balanced by exposing your body to different nutrients that are essential for your body to thrive. Check out my article to find out what foods to choose each season!
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5. Plant a tiny garden
Planting a tiny herb garden is another easy way to get back to our roots. Whether you live on an acre of land or in a small apartment, herbs can be grown wherever there is a little light. There are even kits like this one that you can buy to help make the process simple and straightforward. However you choose to start your herb garden, the satisfaction you’ll feel every time you harvest fresh herbs for your meal will help you appreciate the provision the Earth gives us.
6. Reassess your supplements
Unfortunately, the majority of supplements on the market are made with less than optimal ingredients. Choose what you take wisely and opt for brands that are all natural and transparent about the quality and sourcing of their ingredients. Better yet, look for supplements that utilize the best adaptogenic herbs and other nutrients nature has to offer. I personally formulated my supplement line The Collection with the earth’s finest ingredients, with all 9 supplements designed to work synergistically to support your optimal wellness.
7. Switch up your mode of transportation
Opting to walk or ride your bike to work gives you another opportunity to spend time in nature, while also helping the environment. Too cold to be outside? Call up a few friends and put together a carpool schedule. Just making the effort to be more environmentally friendly in one area of your life, will help expand your awareness on how you can be more eco-conscious in other areas.
8. Go barefoot
If you need another reason to kick off your shoes, I’ll give you four! Research has found (6) that walking barefoot on the Earth - commonly referred to as “grounding” - can reduce inflammation, enhance wound healing, increase white blood cells for a stronger immune system, and even prevent the onset of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.
Needless to say, spending time in nature has its fair share of health benefits. Whether it's a daily walk in the park, enjoying seasonal produce, or simply taking a moment to stand barefoot on the ground, you don't have to look far to enjoy all that nature has to offer. So next time you're feeling a little disconnected, consider stepping outside and reconnecting with the world around you.
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References:
- Antonelli, Michele et al. “Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” International journal of biometeorology vol. 63,8 (2019): 1117-1134. doi:10.1007/s00484-019-01717-x
- Mao, Gen Xiang et al. “Effects of short-term forest bathing on human health in a broad-leaved evergreen forest in Zhejiang Province, China.” Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES vol. 25,3 (2012): 317-24. doi:10.3967/0895-3988.2012.03.010
- Chen, Li et al. “The Impact of Gratitude on Connection With Nature: The Mediating Role of Positive Emotions of Self-Transcendence.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 13 908138. 16 Jun. 2022, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.908138
- Hazlett, Laura I et al. “Exploring neural mechanisms of the health benefits of gratitude in women: A randomized controlled trial.” Brain, behavior, and immunity vol. 95 (2021): 444-453. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2021.04.019
- Li, Jian et al. “Indoor formaldehyde removal by three species of Chlorophytum comosum under dynamic fumigation system: part 2-plant recovery.” Environmental science and pollution research international vol. 28,7 (2021): 8453-8465. doi:10.1007/s11356-020-11167-3
- Oschman, James L et al. “The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.” Journal of inflammation research vol. 8 83-96. 24 Mar. 2015, doi:10.2147/JIR.S69656
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BY DR. WILL COLE
Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum and the brand new book Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel.
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