Have you reached a chapter in your life where noise feels more jarring, and the pace seems set by others or a world rushing past? Perhaps you find yourself in moments of quiet reflection, looking out from the windows of your well-established life, and feeling a gentle but persistent pull toward something more authentic. It’s a longing to reconnect with yourself, to nurture and rediscover your own rhythms.
That quiet ache for simplicity isn’t a step back; it’s a call from your soul. And it’s one we can answer with remarkable simplicity. Let us share some gentle, nature-based activities designed to help you find that deep peace, everyday joy, and reconnection you seek.
A beautiful piece of research from the University of Derby, called “One Thousand Good Things in Nature”, offers us a gentle, powerful key. It shows us that we don’t need to trek into the wilderness to find peace. Instead, profound wellbeing can bloom from quietly noticing the ordinary, natural world right outside our doors.
A Simple Practice for a Calmer Heart
The study invited people to do something wonderfully straightforward – for five days, they wrote down three good things they noticed in nature each day. Not grand sunsets or mountain views, but the small, kind moments – the warmth of the sun on their hands, the cheerful song of a robin in the garden, the sight of a new bud unfurling.
From over a thousand observations, ten beautiful themes emerged. They read like a checklist of gentle, accessible joys that are waiting for us to notice. Each one is a doorway to a quieter mind and a softer heart.
The Ten Quiet Gifts Nature Holds for Us
1. Soothing Sensations (17%)
The most common joy was a sensory one – feeling the sun’s warmth, listening to birdsong, or smelling rain on the earth. These moments pull us out of our busy minds and into our bodies, offering an immediate, grounding sense of peace. This is why practices like mindful nature connection and sound healing are so powerful – they guide us back to these calming sensations.
2. The Comfort of Growth and Change (13%)
Many found solace in watching nature’s gentle progress – a tree coming into leaf, spring flowers emerging. In a world that often fears change, nature reminds us that growth, renewal, and new beginnings are natural, beautiful, and constant. Observing this can be a deeply hopeful practice.
3. The Delight of Wildlife (12%)
Watching a squirrel’s antics or a bird bathing in a puddle brings a smile and a sense of shared life. It reminds us we are part of a wider, vibrant community of living things, which can gently ease feelings of loneliness or isolation.
4. A Single Beautiful Detail (11%)
Sometimes, peace is found in focusing on one perfect thing – the pattern on a leaf, the colour of a single flower. This act of focused attention is a form of natural meditation, quieting the chatter of the mind. It’s a principle at the heart of both nature connection and art therapy – truly seeing the beauty in front of us.
5. Moments of Gentle Wonder (10%)
People spoke of awe at a spider’s web glistening with dew or the view of distant hills. These moments lift our spirits, shift our perspective, and remind us of a world greater than our daily worries. They nourish the soul with a sense of something truly magical in the mundane.
6. The Calming Effect of Weather (10%)
Participants didn’t just notice the weather; they found comfort in it. The sound of rain, the feeling of a cool breeze, or the warmth after a shower became sources of calm. This teaches us to be present with the elements, to accept their transient nature, and to find a soothing rhythm in their changes – much like the flow of our own lives.
7. The Healing Power of Colour (8%)
The vibrant green of new grass, an autumn leaf with the sun shining through it, or the soft pink of a dusk sky caught many eyes. Colour in nature has a direct, emotional impact, often evoking feelings of tranquillity, joy, or nostalgia. Simply noticing and appreciating these hues can be a gentle visual therapy, lifting our mood without a single word.
8. Personal Stories in the Sky (8%)
People didn’t just observe the weather; they gave it meaning. A passing storm became a “dramatic show,” and shifting clouds reflected a “battle between sun and shadow.” This practice of weaving personal reflection onto what we see helps process our own feelings and fosters a creative, storytelling connection with the world and maybe artistic creativity.
9. The Joy of Connection (5%)
Seeing animals interact – a pair of robins, a flock of birds moving as one – sparked a special warmth. These glimpses into companionship and community in the natural world can touch our own longing for connection and remind us of the simple beauty of relationships.
10. The Direct Gift of Good Feelings (4%)
Most beautifully, people simply noted how nature made them feel – peaceful, hopeful, or joyful. This direct emotional uplift is perhaps the most precious gift. It confirms that these small moments of noticing aren’t just observations; they are genuine, heartfelt experiences that replenish our emotional reserves.
Your Gentle Invitation
I warmly invite you to try this simple, five-day practice:
- Each day, find a quiet moment to notice.
- Write down three small, good things in nature you experienced. Did you feel a breeze? See a surprising colour? Hear a bird?
- Be kind and specific to yourself.
- See how you feel at the end of the week. You may be surprised by the quiet shift.
This isn’t about adding another task to your day. It’s about gifting yourself moments of pause and presence. It’s about remembering that you are, and always have been, a part of this beautiful, natural world. And in that remembering, there is profound peace and restoration waiting for you.
If you’d like guidance in deepening this connection – through mindful walks, therapeutic sound, or creative expression – please do reach out. It would be an honour to support you on the path back to your own gentle, natural rhythm.
Further Reading & Resources
- University of Derby (2023). “One Thousand Good Things in Nature” project.
The lovely study that inspires this gentle practice.
Learn more about the study - The Wildlife Trusts. “30 Days Wild.”
A fantastic challenge encouraging daily acts of wildness and noticing nature throughout June (or any month!).
Join 30 Days Wild - Mental Health Foundation. “Nature: How connecting with nature benefits our mental health.”
A comprehensive report detailing the science behind nature’s positive impact on our minds.
Read the report - Collins, L. (2022). The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. WW Norton & Company.
A highly accessible book exploring the science behind why spending time in nature is essential for us. - Willis, K. (2023). Good nature: Rediscovering the connection between everyday noticing and wellbeing. London: Natural Insight Press.
- Mind. “Nature and mental health.”
How time in nature supports mental wellbeing at any age.
Read Mind’s guidance
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