Back when I was in my early 20s, I decided to continue my education and move to Los Angeles so I could attend fashion school. It was an amazing time full of possibilities, but also a ton of pressure and stress about what to do with the rest of my life. When things got to be too much or the future got too confusing I would jump in my car, drive to the beach, and sit there for a few hours with my feet in the sand just watching the waves. After a few hours (or a day) spent at the beach I’d leave feeling so much better. Even if I hadn’t made any decisions or had any revelations regarding the latest conundrum I was facing, life felt more under control. I felt less stressed.

I didn’t have a particular reason for doing this, it just seemed like a natural thing to do at the time. When life got stressful – head to the beach.

Over the next 10 years I left California (and easy access to the ocean), and I completely forgot about this concept. I moved to another sprawling city, went all in with my busy corporate career, and took no forays into nature to calm my soul. I was stressed and unhappy, but I just thought it was normal. Sure, I took a few hikes here and there, and I loved our Arizona mountain views, but I stopped actively seeking nature as a soothing medicine. I never made the connection that those hours on the beach were resetting something in my mind, putting things into perspective, and just relaxing my nervous system in general.

A few years ago, I started realizing how much I needed time in nature, and how little I was actually getting. This was cemented last year when my husband and I spent 3 months traveling and staying in cities surrounded by stone, paved roads, and buildings with no trees or even a lonely bush. At first I couldn’t place it, but I realized that I was going stir crazy for nature. I wanted space. I wanted to breathe. I wanted to walk among trees or along the beach. When we finally left the city and got back into the outdoors it was like an oppressive weight was lifted and I could breathe freely again. That’s when I realized just how important it was for me to spend time in nature, and how little I had actively pursued it previously.

There are all sorts of studies that show the benefits of nature on human health. But most of us don’t have the opportunity to just jump in the car and head to the beach for a day when things get stressful. We have lives, jobs, families, responsibilities. We need easier ways to bring nature to us. To be able to connect with the natural world, even if we do live in paved metropolises. So here are a few simple ways I’ve been bringing more of the outdoors into my everyday.

1. Grow potted herbs on a windowsill

Even for those of us who don’t have space or availability to have a large outdoor garden, windowsill herbs are a great way to dip your toe (or thumb?) into gardening. A few small pots of fresh herbs bring plants inside and are both useful and pretty. Instead of using dried herbs for your recipes (which I also love) fresh herbs impart more flavor to your food. You also get the thrill of using ingredients that you’ve cultivated yourself. We love growing rosemary and basil, but consider which herbs you use the most and start with those.

2. Eat lunch outside

Obviously this one is weather permitting, but this simple act can make such a difference. When I was working in a corporate office in my little cubicle under fluorescent lights I used to eat lunch at my desk almost every day. I remember the first time I decided to stop and eat lunch outside, and wow, what a game changer! Not only did I give myself a break from screens, but I also got a bit of Vitamin D and much needed fresh air (and as a bonus I got to watch dogs play in the dog park across the street!). If you find yourself typically eating indoors and the weather is nice, have your lunch outside instead.

3. Watch a sunrise or sunset

While this might not always be possible depending on your schedule and where you live, try to spend some time watching the sunrise or sunset. If you’re a morning person, get up before the sunrise, make yourself some coffee or tea, and just sit and enjoy the colors of the sky and the gradual shift from darkness to light. Or if you have time in the evenings, watch the sun set. For a while we lived in a house that had a southern facing deck and it became one of my and my husband’s favorite traditions to pour a glass of wine, sit on the deck, and watch the sun set behind the mountains and the sky turn its beautiful hues.

4. Go barefoot – if you can

I lived in Arizona for 10 years and you really don’t want to go barefoot anywhere unless you like stepping on a variety of sharp pointy things and burning hot cement. But if you live in a place where you actually have grass that won’t stab you, pull off your shoes and run barefoot for a while. Not only do you get the benefits of feeling the ground with your feet, you also get to feel like a kid again. And that's a feeling most of us need more of.

5. Use nature in your art, or buy botanical art

One of the reasons I love cyanotype printing is that I get to work with plants directly to create art. Since starting my practice I notice the world around me differently. Silhouettes become important, shadows become inspiration. It’s a wonderful mixing of creativity with the natural world, and has brought me so much joy. If you’re an artist, try incorporating flowers, leaves, or natural specimens into your art practice. And if you’re not an artist, there’s a wide variety of botanical art out there to decorate your home. And if you’re in the market for some, I’d love for you to visit my shop to see if anything inspires you.

Take care of yourselves, friends. And be sure to step outside today.