Remember the long sunny days of years past. What do you miss? What was your favorite? Late night car rides with the windows open and a warm breeze in your hair? Getting your hands dirty in the garden and watching your vegetables grow and your hard work pay off? Kayaking on the lake with friends and enjoying a picnic in the sun after? Start bringing yourself back to these feelings and letting it feel possible that the winter is gone and it’s time for rebirth in the Spring. Many of us take a break from the outdoors in the cold weather. Now it’s time to amp up the outdoor experience – and enjoy what nature offers us! 

What can you do to get yourself back in appreciating and reconnecting with nature?

• Get outside first thing in the morning. You can start having your coffee or tea on the deck or the front porch, take a morning walk or jog. Take a trip around your yard to see what’s changing, blooming, and budding! Getting outside first thing in the morning helps your internal clock and sets you up for a productive day.
• Start your seedlings inside or in a greenhouse, ready your garden for the Spring.
• Learn about nature – download an app like PictureThis. It will give you information about any plant, like what species it is, preferable growing conditions, and how tall and wide it will get. Some libraries also have weekend classes on native plants and nature conservation.
• Visit nearby botanical gardens, state parks, and nature trails. Join a hiking club or a meet up with a friend.
• Take photos. Get the good camera out and take some nice pictures of whatever intrigues you. Take photos of anything that makes you feel good, a color that pops, or the sunlight hitting in just the right spot. Try to find a butterfly, an opening flower, and some bugs!
• Have a quiet picnic. Bring a blanket and snacks to a spot in the yard or a park, and take your shoes off. Look around and appreciate what you see and feel. Be mindful and in the moment.
• Touch nature. Feel the rough tree bark, dainty flower petals, dried mud, and the veins in a leaf. Think about why they feel this way. 
• Clean up outside. Take a walk with a trash bag and clean up some trash that has accumulated over the winter on the sides of the road. It’s been windy!
• Hang a birdfeeder. Each morning, feed the birds and enjoy all the different ones that show up all day!
• Plant something new. Plant some trees, bushes, or flowers. Get excited about new plants, colors, and visitors to your yard. Buy plants that are popular among pollinators!
• Sleep with the windows open. Let the outdoor noises inside.  Listen to the noises and feel the gentle breeze as you fall asleep. 
• Dry some clean laundry outside. I always dry my comforter by hanging it over the deck – it smells so fresh and clean after! 

Reconnecting with nature doesn’t stop there – there are so many ways to bring nature back into your world. Appreciate all it has to offer and get outside every day with intention. It will help lower your stress, increase physical fitness, and spark creativity.