Nature has a way of grounding us, no matter where we live. You don’t need acres of land or a mountain view—sometimes it’s as simple as opening a window, noticing the sky, or feeling the grass under your feet. Once a week, I make it a point to connect with the natural world around me. It resets my mind, softens my stress, and reminds me that life is bigger than whatever I’ve been worrying about.

1. The Sky Check

Once a week, I pause just to look up. Sunrise, sunset, or even the middle of the day. The sky is always changing, and noticing it makes me feel grounded in the present. The formation of the clouds, the colors of the sky, ominous nights, sunsets, and sunrises always fill me with both wonder and joy.

My tip: Sometimes I take a quick photo. Later, scrolling through those sky shots reminds me of how many beautiful moments happen right above us.

2. A Barefoot Moment

Connecting directly with the earth is surprisingly calming. Once a week (ok, I might do this every day in my yard…LOL), I kick off my shoes and stand barefoot on grass, sand, or even just the patio. A few minutes of feeling grounded through my feet changes everything. It’s incredibly grounding and really makes me feel like a kid again. It’s especially fun to do in the rain.

My tip: I pair it with deep breathing. Inhale, exhale, feel the ground. It’s like a reset button for my whole body.

3. A Nature Walk

Not an exercise walk, not a power walk, just a slow, intentional stroll where I pay attention to the details around me: birds, flowers, trees, even cracks in the sidewalk. Nature is always there if you choose to notice it. Because I live in the suburbs, I will drive to a nature area. There are greenways, the beach, the woods, etc., all within driving distance. I do miss walking in the mountains, but I try to get up north once a year to do that as well. It’s where I feel the most one with nature.

My tip: I try to choose a different street or path each week so I don’t fall into autopilot. Fresh scenery keeps me curious.

Where I go: There is a beautiful Lagoon Greenway in Vero Beach, FL where I used to take the dog for a walk. It’s so peaceful with wooden bridges over running brooks, rustling leaves on the trees (and crunching underfoot).

4. Bring the Outdoors In

Once a week, I bring a little bit of nature inside. A few leaves, shells from the beach, a small bouquet, or even a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter. It makes the house feel more alive.

My tip: I often press a flower or leaf into a book. Later, finding it again feels like a secret gift that I’ve hidden for myself.

5. A Water Pause

Water is nature’s calming element. Once a week, I sit by a body of water, whether it’s the beach, my pool, the fountain in the shopping center, or even just running water in my own backyard. Watching it flow has a way of washing away stress. I’ve always been a beach person and love being by the water.

My tip: If I can’t get to water, I listen to nature sounds like waves, rain, or a babbling brook on my phone or Amazon Echo. It brings a little bit of calm, even indoors.

Wrapping It Up

Nature doesn’t ask much of us—just that we show up and notice it. A sky check, a barefoot pause, a slow walk, a leaf brought inside, or a few minutes with water. All of these are simple rituals that reconnect us to the earth and to ourselves.

Because when we root ourselves in nature once a week, we find renewal that no gadget, app, or routine can replace.