Most people live their lives in big cities, chained to jobs, mortgages, and motor vehicles. It’s a convenient life, but it has nothing to do with what nature evolved the human animal to enjoy.

We should be spending 90 percent of our time in nature, but modern life prevents that. 

The consequences of our loss of interaction with nature are severe. Many people feel depressed in big cities, wishing they were somewhere else, but they don’t know why.

We spend most of our time in front of screens, in artificial environments, and under constant stress which makes us feel disconnected from our ancient roots.

Our biology is the same as it always was, but in the last 100 years, our surroundings have been transformed. As such, we feel a profound sense of loss and disconnect from the natural world. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can rediscover our joy of being outdoors by making some simple changes in our lifestyle and mindset. Here’s what you should be doing: 

How To Rediscover Your Innate Joy Of Being Outdoors

Dedicate Time For Nature

The first step is to schedule some time every week to go outside and enjoy nature. Just an hour should provide you with enough exposure to reset your mood and help you feel better. 

If you don’t have time to travel or you lack a car, a 15-minute walk around your neighborhood can make a difference. The key is to be present and mindful of your surroundings.

When in nature, be mindful of your surroundings. Take in the colors, sounds, smells, and textures you observe. Make the experience multi-sensory to feel like you’re alive again, instead of being cooped up in a pen, waiting for your manager’s next set of instructions. 

Try to breathe deeply and feel the fresh air entering your lungs. Recognize yourself as a creature that came out of the natural world, not an alien deposited in it. 

Do Something New

If you feel bored or stuck in a rut, try a new outdoor activity that challenges you and sparks your curiosity.

It could be something adventurous like kayaking, rock climbing, or skiing. Or it could be something creative like gardening, birdwatching, or photography.

Find a hunting scope or buy yourself a new backpack. Just do something that will encourage you to spend more time in nature and enjoy the wonderful bounty it has to offer. 

As you do so, you’ll learn about yourself. You may also discover new skills and passions you didn’t realize you had. These can enrich your life tremendously and give you something fun to think about in the future. 

Connect With Others

You can also remind yourself that you’re not alone in your desire to spend more time outside. There are plenty of other people in the same boat as you, wishing they could get out of the city. 

Being outdoors is a good way to bond with people who share your interests and values. If you’re an extrovert, you may prefer going out into nature in groups or teams and doing some sort of activity with them.

You can also relax together, or use the time to enhance your communication, cooperation, and empathy. 

Embrace The Adventure

When you live in a city, you can feel coddled and cloistered. Everything is geared towards health and safety, and there are no real opportunities to really get out there and do something incredible with your time.

However, when you go outdoors into the wild, it’s a different story. 

Why not go hiking, camping, kayaking, or rock climbing? Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Once you do, you’ll find your sense of accomplishment and connection to nature will improve. 

Be More Active

Another top tip is to be more active. Nature is a demanding place, so you need to be fit to enjoy it. Instead of hitting the gym, go for a jog outside, take a yoga class in the park, or go for a bike ride.

You’ll find that your energy levels increase and you become more relaxed and confident being in nature and enjoying everything it has to offer.

You’ll also get plenty of fresh air in your lungs, which is something you won’t find much of in the city. 

Go Small

Lastly, if you’re feeling disconnected from nature, try to reintroduce it in small ways first.

For instance, you don’t have to trek to the top of a massive mountain. Instead, just take a few short walks in a nearby park and build from there.