​Ways to reconnect
 

• Daily excursions outdoors. Take note of the sky and clouds, the breeze, the plants, birds and insects that share your community. What do you smell? Are you in the moment or distracted by your thoughts or phone?

• Become a bird nerd. Bird identification is for everyone. There are many online resources to help you learn about your neighbours. Birdlife Australia hosts an annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count which allows everyone to join the count and they offer a great, free smartphone app.

• Name that plant! We all know hundreds of corporate brand logos, but can we identify our tree and plant friends who do so much for the local environment? The Australian National Botanic Garden has a list of resources that makes it easy to learn a new language- of plants.

• Grow some plants. Whether they are vegetables, herbs, or native plant species that will attract many pollinators, getting our hands in the soil can be transformative. Watching a seed grow into a fruit-bearing plant is one of the most magical things we can do. Digging in the soil can be a great mood lifter and has the added benefit of physical exercise. No room for a garden outdoors? Adding a potted plant to your indoor space will connect you with the outdoors and add more life to any room. Peruse these outdoor gardening resources on indigenous plants, year-round gardening, and indoor plant maintenance tips.   

• Explore new places. You might live in a crowded urban space, but can you find a park that you've never visited before? If you live in a regional or remote area, do you venture out beyond your home or do you sometimes take the space for granted? Often, enjoying nature requires us to take our time and see familiar spaces with new eyes. Check out these resources on forest therapy, benefits of exercising outdoors, and grounding by going barefoot.