In a busy household with four-legged friends, finding quiet moments might be tricky – but it’s crucial for your wellbeing. And while there are a few ways to achieve this, nothing complements this lifestyle more than integrating elements of nature into your daily routine.
Living with animals offers fantastic opportunities to connect with the natural world and foster a sense of peace. Below, we’ve explained how you can seamlessly blend nature into your routine and enhance mindfulness in the process.
Bringing the outdoors in
One of the simplest and fastest ways to incorporate nature into your life is by bringing elements of the great outdoors into your home. Houseplants purify the air and create a calming environment by improving our mood and reducing stress levels too.
If you’ve only got a small garden or limited outdoor space, a variety of plants like ferns, succulents, and flowering plants add effortless colour and texture to your living space. Natural aromas like lavender or eucalyptus could add an appealing atmosphere, but just make sure you’re avoiding plants poisonous to dogs, cats, or rodents.
Outdoor activities together
Spending time in the great outdoors with your furry friends can be a wonderful and grounding experience. Walking, hiking, or simply playing together in the garden can help you to build your bond together and reconnect with nature too.
Along with light cardiovascular exercise, hiking gives you moments of mindfulness in new and enriching natural environments. Doing some light yoga or stretching in the garden gives you the chance to slow down and observe, too. Whether that’s by watching the birds, listening to the rustle of leaves or feeling dewy grass underfoot, these simple pleasures can bring you peace.
Natural diets for wellbeing
A naturally balanced diet is equally beneficial for animals and humans!
Providing your furry friends with wholesome, natural foods will only improve their health and wellness, which makes you feel better as an owner too! For example, you can encourage healthy eating habits with a constant supply of fresh guinea pig hay and start taking a more proactive approach to your care.
When you foster a genuine connection and sense of responsibility for the food that you and your animals eat, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the nourishing and restorative qualities of nature.
Meditation, inspired by nature
Meditation is always a powerful tool for achieving mindfulness.
Try incorporating nature into any mindfulness routine you already follow. When you meditate in your garden or another quiet green space, the sights and sounds of nature will deepen your sense of relaxation. When outdoor meditation isn’t possible, try to create a nature-inspired space with houseplants or natural white noise like birdsong.
And finally, it’s always possible to unwind with your furry companions. Teach puppies how to settle down or take a nap with your cat on the sofa. Make time for purposeful downtime and surround yourself with nature wherever possible.