If you're like me, you love spending time in nature. There's something about being surrounded by trees, fresh air, and wildlife that just feels good. And what better way to document your outdoor adventures than by keeping a nature journal? Nature journaling is a great way to connect with the natural world around you. Not only will you have a record of the places you've been and the things you've seen, but you'll also find that nature journaling can be a really fun and relaxing activity. Here are just a few of the benefits of keeping a nature journal:
Get outside and explore.
One of the best things about nature journaling is that it gives you an excuse to get outside and explore. If you're like me, you probably already spend a lot of time outdoors, but nature journaling gives you an added incentive to seek out new places to explore. There's nothing quite like finding a beautiful spot in nature and then being able to sit down and document everything you see and feel in your journal.
Slow down and appreciate the little things.
In today's fast-paced world, it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Nature journaling allows you to do just that. When you're focused on writing down your observations, you naturally start to pay more attention to your surroundings. Suddenly, all those little details that you normally wouldn't notice—the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, the colors of the flowers—stand out in sharp relief.
Connect with your community.
Nature journaling can also be a great way to connect with other people who love spending time outdoors. If you don't already have a group of friends or family members who share your interest in nature journaling, there are plenty of ways to find them—join a hiking club, take a class at your local community center, or even start your own nature journaling meetup group! Whether you're an experienced outdoors person or someone who's never set foot in a forest before, I hope this has inspired you to give nature journaling a try. I guarantee you'll find that it's a joyful and rewarding experience!
Nature Journal Ideas and Prompts to Help You Connect with the Outdoors
1. Pick a plant or animal that you see often on your hikes or walks and learn everything you can about it. What does it eat? Where does it live? What is its life cycle? Document what you learn in your journal. 2. Go for a walk without map or phone and get lost. Write about how it feels to be disoriented and disconnected from the technology you usually rely on. Then find your way back and make a map of your route in your journal. 3. Find a comfortable spot outside and spend at least 15 minutes observing the world around you without moving. Write down everything you see, hear, smell, and feel in your journal. 4. Pick up trash whenever you see it on your hikes or walks and write about why stewardship of our natural spaces is so important. 5. Keep track of the moon phases over the course of a month and write about how they make you feel. 6. Make a list of all the wild animals you've seen in your area and research one that you haven't seen before. Where do they live? What do they eat? Why have you never seen one before? 7.Write about a time when you felt really connected to nature – what were you doing, where were you, how did it make you feel? 8. Go for a walk in silence – no music, no podcasts, no talking – and write about what it's like to connect with nature without any distractions. 9 .Spend some time looking at old photographs of yourself or family members outdoors – hiking, camping, picnicking, etc… How has our relationship to nature changed over time? Write about what these changes mean to you . 10 .Think about how humans interacts with nature – both positively and negatively – and write about ways we can work towards living in harmony with the natural world . Nature journaling is a great way to connect with the outdoors, document your adventures, and reflect on your place in nature. These prompts are just a starting point – let them inspire you to find your own unique way of documenting your relationship with the natural world around you!
Wanna keep going? Try our guided journaling app and check out our Gratitude For Nature program!