Seven easy ways to spend more time in nature this new year

Each and every year as December comes to a close, a tradition draws near that brings evergreen debate from all sides of the spectrum – the much-contested, love-it-or-leave tradition of writing New Year’s resolutions.

While the calendar itself may be an arbitrary method of organizing time, turning the page on that fresh new year means something to all of us. We measure our entire lives by the tick of our own man-made calendars; the passage of weeks and months, school years and decades that we celebrate with big birthday bashes. While the calendar is arbitrary, the way we remember life in these bits and chunks of time is not. In this way, the new year presents an incredible blank slate to alter your trajectory and set a new course toward the life you truly want to lead.

But resolutions need genuinely actionable items in order to come to fruition. So if your resolution is to spend more time in nature in 2022, keep reading! Here are 7 ways to make space in your weekly calendar to enjoy time in nature.

Take a lunchtime stroll

Since we spend a large majority of our time at work, this is perhaps the best opportunity to squeeze in some time in nature. Even if it’s just a walk around the block or to a local park and back, a quick jaunt outside will do wonders for both your health and productivity.

Explore your local parks

Check out your area on Google Maps to get a lay of the land and see what local parks and paths are available near your home and pencil in some time each week to take a walk. Alternatively, you can do some old-fashioned wandering around your neighborhood and see what you stumble upon! I took the latter strategy in my own neighborhood in Vienna, Austria and found a wonderful trail near the Danube River that I now frequent almost weekly. Throw in a morning coffee and a podcast while you walk, and you’ve got an awesome Saturday morning ritual!

Grow some plants on your windowsill

Bring the outdoors inside with some potted plants, either in the windowsill or on the terrace or porch, if you have one. The delicate greenery will refresh your space with clean air and a greater sense of peace and calm. If you want to be especially ambitious, try growing some vegetables or spices that you can incorporate into your cooking!

Sync with the seasons

Sunflowers bloom from July until October. June is peak strawberry picking season. And peonies bloom between April and June. The natural world is full of breathtaking marvels, if only we know when and where to look! Identify the ideal seasons to enjoy the unique beauty of your own local area and plan to appreciate it in a timely manner!

Brush up on your photography skills

Enjoying nature with your eyes alone is lovely, but with your camera it’s much more interesting. Why not take your  camera along on your next journey into nature and capture what you see. The artistic task of depicting the natural world around you will bring you to a new level of knowledge and appreciation for the beauty all around you.

Go on weekend adventures

The weekend is the perfect opportunity to plan to explore nature further afield. Get out and about early so you can make the most of a full day of adventure! Some of my favorite Saturdays have been spent taking a 3 hour train west into the mountains of Austria and embarking on a beautiful hike with friends. Don't forget to pack a backpack the night before with some essentials and ensure you take lots of water and snacks too.

Start planning a summer road trip

Perhaps the most time consuming idea of all is the ever-popular summer road trip! In the depths of winter, when going out into nature is decidedly less-appealing, take some time to plan out a dream road trip around your region, state, or country, hitting all the most beautiful natural wonders. When summer finally rolls around, you’ll be glad you spent those cold days planning for a sunny adventure!

If you enjoyed this post you might also like 6 ways to be a more sustainable hiker. Keep up to date with what's happening at Bon+Berg by joining our mailing list.‍