What if we slowed down a little to better reconnect with what surrounds us? Nature has this precious superpower: it soothes us, amazes us, and reminds us that we, too, are part of the living world. The more we become aware of this, the more we want to care for it.

Reconnecting with nature is easier than you might think. You don’t need to go far, just a few steps outside your door can be enough. Here are a few simple ideas to (re)build your connection with the living world around you.

Open Your Eyes and Ears

Sometimes, nature is right there, but we walk past it without really seeing it. What if we paused for a moment to observe what’s growing, flying, or crawling nearby? Bioblitz (events where participants inventory living species) are a fun and easy way to discover the plants, trees, and small creatures that share our neighborhoods. It’s a great chance to meet your leafy or feathered neighbors.

Treat Yourself to a Forest Bath (or a Park One!)

Inspired by shinrin yoku, a Japanese practice meaning “forest bathing,” this activity involves walking slowly through nature while focusing on your senses. And no, you don’t need a massive forest—an urban park works just fine!

Here’s a little sensory exploration for those who are up for awakening their senses:

Sight: Look around you! Trees, birds, flowers, hurried squirrels…

Smell: Breathe in deeply. Can you smell damp earth? Wildflowers? Lichen?

Hearing: Close your eyes… Can you hear the birds singing? Leaves rustling? The wind whispering its secrets?

Touch: Run your hand over tree bark or moss-covered rocks, feel the grass tickle your feet or go ahead and hug a tree (promise, it won’t judge).

Do a Little Gardening… or at Least Repot a Plant

You don’t need a big yard to get your hands in the soil. A balcony, a windowsill, or even a few houseplants can be enough to foster a connection with the living world. Watering, noticing a new leaf appear, repotting to give a plant room to grow—these small actions help reconnect us to nature’s pace.

Create with What Nature Offers

Next time you go for a walk, why not collect a few things from the ground—leaves, flowers, branches, acorns—and make a small, ephemeral artwork? The idea is to simply create something beautiful (or not!) just for fun, then let nature reclaim it. Try making a natural mandala or an impromptu sculpture on a tree stump. It’s also a great activity to do with kids!

Reconnecting with nature doesn’t mean quitting everything to live in a cabin in the woods. More often, it’s about small actions, unexpected pauses, and moments when we slow down and dare to open our eyes to the beauty of the living world around us. Sometimes, it just takes paying attention.

For more ideas on ways to reconnect with the living world, we invite you to check out this special section created by Earth Day Canada.

So, when’s your next date with nature?

The Travelling Jar, Logistic Manager

Mélisande Blanchet

An avid lover of life, Mélisande is constantly looking for new ways to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle and to inspire others to get on board to preserve our delicate Mother Earth. When she’s not wandering around Quebec looking for the best place to pitch her tent, she’s probably in her kitchen making natural cosmetics or expressing her creativity on paper in an unusual location.

View all posts...