If you’re blessed to be living near or within nature, you probably wake up every morning feeling on top of the world. Nature is considered those parts of our physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. It is undeniable that nature does a lot for our bodies, minds and emotions, and research to support these claims abound.

Nature helps to ease stress and makes you feel calmer, inspires physical activity, improves memory, and, over all, improves your well-being, according to various researches. Theories suggest that present day humans have an innate affiliation with nature and living things because of our hunter-gatherer past.¹

But you may ask: “What if I’m not too privileged to be surrounded by the greens, trees, seas or lakes, but still crave to experience the bliss they come with?” We’re glad you asked! Here are a few ways you can feel as close to nature as possible without actually living there.

Grow a plant at your desk or at home

When contemplating the decor of your home, consider growing and nurturing some high oxygen producing indoor plants can be a good way to feel close to nature. You could grow small plants in little pots at your workspace or your home; plants which are capable of both producing oxygen and purifying the immediate air around you. Plants like areca palm, peace lily, aloe vera and other such plants, could be suitable for this purpose.

Plant a subsistence garden

If you have a little area of land behind or beside your house, you could grow a garden, planting either vegetables or flowers and other plants. You may find that spending time outdoors with your hands in soil may do a lot for your emotional and mental well-being.

Let fresh air into the room

Intermittently opening your windows and doors at home or your workplace can bring in some fresh air, capable of making you feel closer to nature and helping you feel calmer.

Some have also found that opening up the windows when it is raining softly outside (as long as you don’t get wet by the rain), or right after a heavy downpour  can be very comforting.

Let sunlight flood the room

A little rain, a little sunshine! Allowing some natural light to flood your room or workplace intermittently may be a great way to feel close to nature. It is a great way to energise the room and lift up your mood.

Letting in sunlight could also help you get rid of stuffiness.

Change the wallpaper on your phone or laptop to a nature scene

As a bonus point, try changing the wallpaper on one or more of the screens you habitually look at to something of a more natural scene. An image of a majestic forest; a calming flowing waterfall; a peaceful looking garden; or a relaxing sea could do much for your mental state throughout your day. Considering how often we pick our phones, or use our computers, this may be very helpful.

Life’s daily struggles can get overwhelming. It is important to slow down and take moments to reconnect with yourself and your environment periodically. In an ideal world, we all would be surrounded by the best of nature’s gifts, however, you know what they say, “When life gives you lemons…”’, and these tips can help you make do with what you do have and feel as close to nature as possible without actually living within it.

¹Wilson E. O. Biophilia: The Human bond with other species; Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, (1984)