Top Ten Ways to Elevate Your Outdoor Experiences

Regardless of your favorite outdoor activity, there are ways to heighten the experience and maximize the pleasurable, stress reducing qualities. One of the many reasons forest bathing and nature therapy is becoming so popular is because of its focus on presence, intention and mindfulness. Here are a few ways to incorporate some therapeutic elements into every outdoor experience, from paddling, boating and fishing to gardening, hiking, horseback riding, biking and everything in between.

1. Be fully present.

2. Create a threshold and leave your to do list behind. Your threshold could be the trailhead, parking lot, boat ramp, a bridge, even your front door. You can pick it back up when you cross the threshold on your way back. Let yourself become fully immersed in your outdoor activity, free of worries and stress.

3. Follow your heart. Give yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling. Explore what calls to you. Give your body and mind what it truly needs.

4. Ditch your technology. Put your phone on forest bathing mode, a.k.a. airplane mode and stow it away in your pack. Worried about the time? Set a timer and don’t peek until it goes off. There’s no WIFI in nature, but I promise you’ll find a deeper connection.

5. Avoid the urge to take photos and video with your phone. Linger longer and really study the elements that capture your attention. Mental pictures make the best memories.

6. Get comfortable with silence. There’s a reason people say “Silence is golden.” Just be. Listen to Mother Nature. What is she whispering?

7. Engage your senses. Close your eyes. Listen. Smell. Taste. Touch. Feel. Then open your eyes and see.

8. Slow down. Fully experience the journey, not just the destination. Allow yourself time to explore.

9. Make time for stillness. It’s amazing what we see when we come to a complete stop and observe all that surrounds us.

10. Play! Allow your inner child to be nurtured and seen. Stoke your sense of wonder and awe for the simple things in life, like flowers and bugs, rocks and seashells. Skip a stone across the river. Splash in the surf. Swim in the spring. Let the sunshine warm your body. What do you feel called to do?

BONUS: Reflect. What are you noticing about your experience? How did it make you feel? Journal your thoughts or share them with a friend.

I would love to hear how you’re elevating your outdoor experiences. Send a message or tag me using the links below.

Tree hugs and kisses!

- Kelly

ABOUT KELLY-

Kelly Bruce is a writer, freelance adventurer and mermaid at heart. Her career path has included journalism, marketing and communications, but her true passion is spending time in nature and inspiring people to get outside. Now, she provides nature and forest therapy walks in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, as well as virtual forest bathing workshops through Natural Wanders. She’s a copy editor and contributing writer for Portfolio, as well as our new Wander Wednesday blogger. We love having Kelly as part of our Portfolio girl gang and we hope her content will inspire you, naturally!