Throughout August, I will be sharing tips and techniques I use to help me center during the day and feel better in about 5 minutes or less!

One of the ways I love to center is in nature. Over the last few years, I’ve discovered how important it is for me to feel connected to Mother Nature and Mother Earth.  It calms me and at the same time recharges my physical, mental and spiritual batteries.

Some of the things I do are:

• Go for a walk every day – it’s not only for exercise. I love watching the cycles of the seasons: seeing the flowers bloom and the leaves change colors, walking in a light rain or the first snow. Sometimes I meditate while I walk. Other times I talk to my spirit posse, do affirmations, listen to the birds sing or the wind in the tress. And if I’m feeling stressed or emotional, sometimes a brisk walk is just the thing to help me physically release what I’m feeling.
• Sit outside on my patio – this year I’ve been eating breakfast and dinner here as much as possible. I’m even writing this on my patio, enjoying a beautiful day!
• Have my windows open when the weather is warm enough – in the summertime, I use the AC as little as possible because I realized how cut off I feel when the windows are shut. At night I love hearing the crickets and the frogs and having the fresh air in my room. Even in the winter, on a sunny day, I’ll crack the windows open for a little bit to get some fresh air in the house. And now with my hair shaved, I love to drive with the sun roof and windows opened up more!
• Be near windows – I feel better when I can see outside, able to see the light of day changing or even the weather. I once worked in an office where I sat in an area with no windows. I remember leaving at 5:00 during the winter when it was already getting dark and feeling disoriented. I’m also that person on an airplane who likes to keep the window shade open. I love looking at the sky, the earth, the landscape changing below!
• Work in my yard, especially my garden – there’s something about getting my hands in the dirt, working with plants, veggies and herbs. Even pulling weeds can help me feel better! Yes, there’s a grounding element to it too!
• Be near water – I have a favorite bench in my local park that is along a river. I love to sit there and listen to the water, feeling the energy of everything around me!

Some of these are new to me, others I realized I’ve felt back when I was a kid. I just didn’t understand the dynamics of what was happening, that I was connecting with Mother Nature and Mother Earth. I simply felt the nudge of that connection within me and went with it. We all have that connection to nature and our planet. Does that connection help you to center?