Life’s competing demands can have our minds moving in many directions. As our focus wanders from work projects to home routines to plans on the horizon, it’s easy to lose sight of the here and now. This is where mindfulness comes in.

Mindfulness is a practice of being present in the moment with intention. It’s about paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. Mindfulness can be cultivated through meditation while you are seated in a quiet space, or it can be as simple as staying in the current moment during your everyday rituals like walking, eating, or interacting with others. This can help reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers tips for being mindful on its website (NIH News in Health, 2021), along with information on effectiveness and safety when practicing meditation and mindfulness.

Steps you can take outside

Nature can be a powerful place to practice mindfulness. From dense forests to open meadows, nature offers us a space to pause, reconnect, and breathe.

Walking is one option for practicing mindfulness in nature and getting back to calm. Instead of rushing from one point to another with an end goal in mind, focus on the process of walking itself—the motion, the breathing, and the stillness in between. Let your mind relax and release any tension, focusing solely on your surroundings and your breath.

Pay attention to each step you take, the sensation of your feet connecting with the earth, and the rhythm of your movement. Take notice of the colors and textures of the trees, plants, and wildlife. Listen to the sounds, such as the chirping of birds, rustling of leaves, whispering of the wind. These sensory experiences can anchor you in the present moment and help quiet a busy mind.

Consider taking an ‘awe walk’

A study by researchers at UC Francisco has shown that “awe walks” can help promote well-being. “Awe walks” involve taking a moment to observe the sights, sounds, and textures around you and even having conversation around what you see. Taking the time out of our busy day to pay attention to our surroundings can bring about a feeling of joy and can also connect us to something bigger than ourselves (Nicholas Weiler, UCFS News, 2020). More recently, the New York Times offered tips on approaching awe walks (Jancee Dunn, Well Newsletter, 2023), including picking a destination somewhere that may be unfamiliar to you.

Anticipating the possibilities may offer its own form of amazement.

Wonder while you wander

Let nature spark your sense of wonder! Pause while outside to truly observe the details around you—the patterns in a leaf, the rustling of the wind through the trees, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the scent of pine or fresh rain. These sensations help you become more attuned to the present moment. By incorporating mindfulness into your outdoor experience, you deepen your connection to the natural world while nurturing your mind and spirit.

It’s natural for your mind to drift. When you notice your mind wandering, gently guide your focus back to your surroundings. This is not something that happens instantly, so don’t feel bad if you have to do this many times! It takes time, patience, and consistent effort, which is why it’s referred to as the “practice” of mindfulness. Just slow down, breathe, and focus on appreciating nature’s simplicity and stillness.

The Healing Power of Nature

Extensive research has shown that spending time outdoors can have a profound effect on our mental and physical health. Being in nature can help reduce stress, lower anxiety, and improve our mood (American Heart Association, 2024). Nature’s calming effect can help us feel more grounded and centered, which is the essence of mindfulness.

When we practice mindfulness in nature, we engage our senses in a way that can deepen our awareness of our surroundings, thoughts and feelings, and our connection to the world around us.

Being mindful at The Parklands

Mindfulness is an opportunity to slow the pace of our lives and silence the pings of modern technology. This opportunity can take shape in myriad and wondrous ways at The Parklands.

Next time you visit our parks, stop and observe all the nuances within the flora, fauna, history, and culture of our area. Our diverse landscapes, both natural and man-made, invite you to take notice and enjoy the beauty of it all—from the smallest details to the big, wide-open picture.

On our website, we’ve identified dozens of places to sightsee throughout the parks and highlighted our favorite ones. Explore these locations here. Start with a walk through the woods, sit by a pond, or simply gaze at the sky. If you’re interested in capturing the emotions of the coming spring season through writing, you can join us for a creative writing workshop led by Dianne Aprile on March 8. Register and learn more about this event on our website.

From the quiet splendor of bare branches against a winter sky to the subtle signs of a new season on the horizon, The Parklands offers an inspiring space to tune into nature, exist in the present moment, and delight in simply being where you are.