5 Nature Remedies to help your Mindset - CHFV

WE WERE BORN BY NATURE, SO WHEN THE WORLD GETS TOO MUCH...

IT MAKES SENSE TO GO BACK. 

 Featured in the Mountain Safety NZ GO Week NZ - Guest Blog.

A DIP IN THE OCEAN

Nothing speaks freedom more than bare feet in the sand, and diving head first into fresh ocean water. There’s just something about taking your feet off the ground, and swimming off the edge of the land, that makes you realise how small everything really is in comparison to the never-ending horizon and world we are apart of.

Raking your hands through scraggly hair, tasting the salt on your lips, and getting sand in places you usually wouldn’t let see daylight is all a subtle reminder that we are missing out on the moments that matter. In a world increasingly caught up in technology and material things, the ocean can help you take a moment to strip back to the natural you. It can help you embrace the natural moments where you are wild and free, and forget all the worries from daily commitments in life.

Breathe in the fresh ocean air, and close your eyes. Appreciate what our beautiful earth has to offer, while in a completely natural state — And as always, you will leave feeling like the ocean just did something for your soul… But perhaps you may now understand why.

A HIKE WITH AN END VIEW

Not a view at the beginning, or in the middle, but at the end. The idea is that you have to WORK for the view, as a way of finding your motivation. Very rarely will you find someone who is motivated 24/7, so finding something that you LOVE, is the trick to staying consistent!

Personally, it’s very rare for me to want to handle more than five minutes on a treadmill, so you will often find me doing my cardio where ever there are stairs and a view. This way, even if I don’t feel like doing my cardio, I have more reason to get it done because my sole purpose is not just to “work out”, it is also to experience something I love.

Usually, if you’re looking for a view, the hike will come with more than a few stairs too… Which is PERFECT when you have a lot on your mind because your focus switches to your breathing and getting to the top. Then, chances are (due to the benefits of exercise mentioned in #5, your mind will become clearer, allowing you to think with a better mindset. Not only this, but you are then likely to feel more motivated than when you started. This is because getting to experience a beautiful view through hard work. creates undeniable positive vibes. Positive vibes attract positive emotions, which attract positive thoughts, which attract positive actions… And in turn, positive pathways!

Once you get a taste of these good vibes, it’s natural to want more. But nothing worth having comes easy — Effort is always required. Stop with effort, and you may forget how it feels.

Remember what is positive that you love, and when your mindset is low and you don’t want to do it… That right there is the perfect time to do it anyway

SUNRISE & SUNSET MISSIONS

If there’s anything better than hiking to a beautiful view, it’s hiking to a beautiful view and getting to experience a beautiful sunrise or sunset.

However, what I love about these beautiful works of art by nature, is that you don’t even have to work up a sweat to experience them. It can be as easy as finding a hill or viewing point to sit at or heading down to the beach. Just making an effort to sit quietly and observe nature’s beautiful way of starting and finishing each day, is an easy way to make sure your own day begins and ends on a positive… Because after experiencing a beauty so raw and natural, how could it not? (Bonus if you can take some kind of pizza to a sunset mission, because let’s be honest, pizza makes everything 10x better.)

MEDITATION BY A WATERFALL

Find a spot with little to no people, close your eyes and listen. Hear the water falling, feel the breeze against your face — Watch, and be silent. If you’re like me and have difficulty finding patience for Yoga, start with a bit of meditation — Simply closing your eyes and becoming aware of your five senses can be enough to send you into a deeper experience. See my website for #1 on my Top 5 Walks list, for (in my opinion) one of the best waterfall walks that our beautiful Aotearoa has to offer. Walk over the waterfall itself, climb a few rocks, and usually you’ll get the view all to yourself.

DITCHING THE TREADMILL FOR A CASUAL WALK OUTDOORS

When you have a lot on your mind, your first thought might not be to get out and do a nature walk by yourself. But a majority of the time, there’s nothing better. Whether its a hike with a view causing you to sweat it out OR just a simple flat chilled out walk by the river!
All the benefits of exercise mixed with some beautiful nature and extremely valuable YOU-time, is the perfect mix to re-ignite your natural energy in body AND in mind.

Ever wondered why you feel tired when you sit at home all day doing nothing? Get moving, and you’ll feel better. Exercise promotes positive brain function and the releasing of chemicals (endorphins) that enhance good feelings and emotions, which explains it directly!
Everyone is different, but personally, I have found that doing solo walks helps me to re-align my mindset and pull myself out of a negative thought web. Not only this but when done on a regular basis, it actually helps to keep my state of mind healthy enough for me to not let myself get into these webs in the first place.

Having time TO yourself, BY yourself is extremely important in this generation. And being comfortable in your own company is something lacking in a lot of people today. This is thanks to social media, societies expectations, and many other factors contributing to the increasingly common onset of anxiety, depression and many other negative factors.

Keeping yourself busy is one of the best things you can do if something negative is happening in your life, but how you choose to be busy is everything.

YOUR MIND IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING.

LOOK AFTER IT.

Charly

Charlotte Harris Fitness & Vitality
IG: @charly_harris FB: @charlotteharrisfitness