Short on time? Here's one thing you can do every day to nourish your mind, body AND soul

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the autumn leaves”

–John Muir 

Blissfully mesmerizing are the repetitive crunching sounds of gravel and dirt under my worn-in winter boots. The sound is cathartic. Tree roots here, rocks there. A body of water to my right. Dense woods to my left. The air is crisp but the sun is bright against a peaceful blue backdrop. The sound of geese honking and birds chirping fills the air. It’s nothing much and it’s all more than enough. My loyal companion is displaying her usual antics on the trail ahead, leaping over downed trees and launching herself off of the strewn boulders all around.
 
There are just enough natural obstacles to engage my attention, but not so many that I can’t allow my mind to wander on occasion. This puts me in a state of focused serenity. Nothing particularly exciting is happening. Yet I feel like I am on cloud nine. This is an interesting turn of events because I wasn’t in the best mood to start out with. I came out here seeking clarity. And now I find myself fully engulfed in the moment. I’m not reflecting too much about my past. I’m not fixated on the future. I am just here, right now.
 
Nature’s present
The human brain never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes when we aren’t actively focused on a problem, our brains are working overtime on the solution without our awareness. This is a major benefit to to letting your mind just find peace in the moment. In order to gain a different perspective, some distance from a problem is needed. Distraction from the problem is an effective way to give your brain that much-needed rest. We all know that a stressed mind is not in the best position to make important decisions. And during my recent outing, I had some major life decisions to ponder…
 
When you allow yourself to be fully immersed in the present moment, a funny thing happens. It tries desperately to not be in the moment! If your mind is anything like mine, it begins to run a never-ending stream of tangential thoughts. Some of them are profound and some are just silly. But still it feels like a purge. I wonder how we even manage to keep all these thoughts inside our crowded minds when our noisy world prevents us from releasing them. It’s no wonder so many people experience racing thoughts and insomnia. Solitude in nature is my release.
 
Now if you’re truly gung-ho about staying in the moment, you can train yourself to keep bringing your attention back to the sensations experienced in your immediate surroundings. But I personally enjoy the experience of engaging my senses and letting my mind wander whenever it so pleases. I’ve found that trekking in nature has an amazing way of balancing the two. When I emerge from nature, I come out with a clearer, sharper mind, a rejuvenated soul and a full body workout!

3 birds with one stone
I have my stepper machine. I have my carefully selected favorite cardio workouts on YouTube. I have dumbbells and resistance bands. I have meditation apps. I have my books and my Italian lessons to stimulate my mind. The one thing I don’t always have is time to use them all, every day.  But what I do have time for every single day is a jaunt in nature. I always have time for this because I always make time. It’s non-negotiable. And I am going to assert that the best path to wellness includes connection with nature.
 
Fitness, health and wellness are not all about the wellbeing of the physical state. Achieving wellness means nourishing your mind, body and soul. It’s important to make time for each in our fast-paced world. We don't have to compartmentalize the needs of the mind, body and soul. They are indeed all three interconnected. A healthy physical body is nothing if your mental and spiritual health are suffering.
 
          “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”
                                                        –John Muir
 
I find that spending time in nature brings me the balance that I need to navigate an increasingly complex world. It’s a one-stop shop. It benefits the mind, body and soul. It’s the most natural thing, putting one foot in front of the other. It so perfectly stimulates the mind, body and soul and it does so in ways that no indoor workout can, in my humble opinion.
 
The welcome side effects of moving with purpose in nature are the numerous physical benefits it provides. But the physical effects are never what initially get me out the door. The therapeutic effect it has on my mind and soul are what actually motivate me to step outside. The effects on my heart, lungs, muscles and bones are just added bonuses. When I step onto my stepper, I am focused on a single outcome: improving my physical fitness. Whereas when I step into nature, I am focused on nourishing my entire being.
 
Takeaway
Spend enough time in nature and some of your everyday problems might begin to feel trivial. Your perspective might just shift a bit when you gaze into the vastness of the natural world around you. Sometimes we just need a break from our noisy, distracting modern world. My “sometimes” is at least once a day. But your threshold for “mind noise” might be different than mine.
 
Either way, this doesn’t have to be complicated. You need not drive 3 hours to the nearest national park. Any bit of greenery that you’re able to immerse yourself in, while walking with a destination in mind, will work (of course, do your research and make sure your route is safe!).  

Scope out the nearest park. If you’re feeling more adventurous, look for a safe hiking trail. Take your eyes away from your phone and open them up to all the beauty that surrounds you. "Nature is not  a place to visit. It is home"- Gary Snyder.

“In times of crisis the natural world is a source of joy and solace. It produces the comfort that can come from nothing else”
–David Attenborough