Natural Life Urban World: 3 Steps To More Grounded Living

We all love the conveniences an urban lifestyle provides us. Humanity has advanced so far that you no longer need to spend the majority of your life toiling away in gardens or hunting to ensure your group’s survival. This gift allows you to devote more of your precious time and energy to those things which really “light your fire” so to speak, your passions and interests.

But sometimes, this cosmopolitan world we live in can feel more like a concrete jungle than a utopia. Living this way it’s easy to feel disconnected from the Earth at large and from parts of yourself. So what can you do to get back to your roots and live a natural life in an increasingly urban world? Read on to find out!

Step 1 – Immerse Yourself in Nature

When was the last time you spent more than 15 consecutive minutes outside? Be honest. If your answer wasn’t “earlier today,” “yesterday,” or “last weekend” then it’s time to make a change! If you’ve been feeling stagnant or unproductive, it’s time for you to spend more time exercising outside! The best thing you can do to return yourself to a more natural state – and to promote more balance in all aspects of your life – is to immerse yourself in nature on a regular basis.

Doctors all over the country and throughout the world are prescribing nature therapy to patients to treat all sorts of physical issues from fatigue to high blood pressure. Studies show that nature therapy (also called green therapy or ecotherapy) reduces depression, anxiety, and stress. So what are you waiting for? Get outside for a walk in the park, ride your bike around town, or take a hike and go camping.

Step 2 – Eat Real Food

Another important step to living a healthy, natural lifestyle is to eat real foods! But, um, Dawn aren’t all foods “real”? I haven’t been subsisting all this time on imaginary food! Let me explain to you what I mean by real food. Vegetables and fruits are real foods. Foods that are not processed and that don’t have chemicals added to them are real foods. Foods free from genetic modification are good foods.

Increasing the amount of organic, non-GMO food you eat and decreasing the amount of processed junk foods in your diet –even by a small amount – will change your body and your life. You’ll have more energy to put into your home and work lives. Plus, you’ll feel wonderful!

Step 3 – Cut Back On “Screen Time”

How many hours per day do you spend with your eyes locked onto some sort of screen? It could be your computer, your phone, a television, a tablet, or a game that you’re hunched over. Regardless of the type, these screens are keeping you hooked into the world of instant communications and information transfer and out of touch with your natural abilities to learn by experiencing the world firsthand.

So take a few minutes to think about how much time you spend staring at a screen per day. Write that number down. Now, choose an amount of time that you feel you can realistically cut this down by per day. Then multiply that number times 7 days in a week. Now multiply this number times 4 weeks per month. What personal or professional goals will you be able to accomplish with this much “extra” time per week and per month? Perhaps you can even apply some of this newfound free time to immersing yourself in nature!

Natural Life Urban World

There’s of course, no single answer for everyone. And there are plenty of other ways to ground yourself in a way that brings you back to center, back to self and back to Earth. How do you stay grounded in this urban world we live in? Share in the comments below!