Place Tending
Choose a place that needs tending, and visit it frequently. Part of what this means is just walking around and giving it the gift of loving human company. But it can also include picking up rubbish, keeping track of which birds are nesting and where, or other ways in which you feel that you are tending to the care of that place. Your place may be as simple as a planter box on your apartment balcony, or a herb in a pot on your kitchen windowsill but it could be your garden, a public park, or the verge outside your house.
At work
Search for nature spots near your work, maybe a nearby park, a rooftop garden, a community garden. Immerse yourself in nature during your lunch break to ensure you get some Vitamin D, and some natural sights, sounds and textures all of which will relax and restore your mind, body and soul. Make sure you have pot plants near you if you work indoors as they provide numerous benefits such as cleaning the air, helping to relieve stress, contributing to your creativity and giving your eyes a break from the computer.
add nature to your commute
It doesn’t really matter how you get to your workplace, you can include a bit of nature. If you walk or cycle you could change your route a little bit to go through a park; if you take public transport see if you can regularly take notice of some of the nature on your route, or get on later, or off earlier so you can include some outdoor time as part of your journey. If you drive, well you and the planet are both better off trying another type of transportation!
three things a day
Try to notice three natural things everyday. Bring them to your conscious awareness by interacting with the thing if you can. Perhaps you might water a pot plant, prune a plant in your garden, or simply smell or feel some tree bark, leaves or flowers. It could be as simple as paying attention to the natural item and appreciating something about it. Keep a nature noticing journal: at the end of each day write down the three things you noticed, what you noticed about them, and your experience of noticing.
