The rhythm of spring feels so different from the still of cool winter or the intensity of humid summer. It is softer, yet bolder (as life must be to bloom again). As the days grow longer and the tulips and trees burst to life around us, small gestures—like opening a window, taking an evening stroll or watering plants—can connect us to nature and ground us.
Spring is the perfect time to awaken and practice mindfulness. To find little ways to slow down with nature, to notice the shifts (big and small) in the seasons, and to anchor ourselves in the present as life blossoms around us.
A To-Go Cup of Mindfulness
Incorporating mindfulness and nature can be as simple as tending to an indoor plant. Credit: Rawpixel.
Sometimes “mindfulness” can feel intimidating, especially if the thought of quieting your mind feels like an impossible mission. And how many of us love the idea of being in nature but struggle to do so in meaningful ways during the work week or busy times? I’m guilty of this too, but I’m here to tell you from first-hand city-girl living experience: you can easily build a hygge life melding mindfulness and nature. Just take that cup of mindfulness to go!
Melding mindfulness with nature doesn’t need to be a big lift, and you don’t need a formal meditation practice to feel calmer. Whether you’re in a big city or a small village, you can pair mindfulness with nature to improve your well-being and reduce stress even more effectively that simply meditating alone indoors. But don’t just take my word for it: research tells us blending mindfulness with nature can payoff big time for our mental and physical health.[1], [2], [3]
Easy Ways Get Mindful with Nature:
- Take a short phone-free walk
- Have your morning coffee on the balcony or porch
- Journal outside
- Take a moment to watch the clouds or trees move in the wind
- Try gardening or tend to some herbs indoors
(One tip for success: Focus on the senses. What can you hear, smell, or feel right now?)
Simple Spring Hygge Rituals
Mindfulness is like the foundation upon which hygge stands. A core part of hygge living is intentionality, of which rituals play a key role. Fortunately, meaningful rituals don’t have to be complex—simple is best!
A simple spring mindfulness ritual might look like:
- Listening to birdsong at sunrise
- Opening the windows and letting in fresh air (bonus if you can do it while making tea)
- Curling up on a couch to read a book near fresh flowers
- Stretching or doing yoga in natural light
- Taking a walk at sunset
What kind of mindful hygge routines can you incorporate into your spring day? Are there rituals you've been doing but never considered to be mindful practices? What moments throughout your day can you use to create a space of calm within your mind?
However you choose to do so, engaging in hygge practices in spring can be so calming and rejuvenating for the soul. Work with what nature and resources you have around you, whether you live in a city or the countryside, and remember to take time to be present in your beautiful world.
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Want to elevate your hygge game but don’t want to do it alone? Grab a friend!
Opening photo credit: Yamabon.
[1] Djernis, D., Lerstrup, I., Poulsen, D., Stigsdotter, U., Dahlgaard, J., & O'Toole, M. (2019). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nature-Based Mindfulness: Effects of Moving Mindfulness Training into an Outdoor Natural Setting. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(17), 3202. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173202
[2] Djernis, D., Lundsgaard, C. M., Rønn-Smidt, H., & Dahlgaard, J. (2023). Nature-Based Mindfulness: A Qualitative Study of the Experience of Support for Self-Regulation. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(6), 905. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060905
[3] Galante, J., Friedrich, C., Dalgleish, T., Jones, P. B., & White, I. R. (2023). Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings. Nature Mental Health, 1(7), 462-476. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-023-00081-5