We all long for the fresh outside air, the sound of a river nearby, and the chirping of birds in the morning. Undeniably, living among nature has an intuitive appeal to humans, it’s just as well to admit it and start living the way we want to.
It’s odd how such a natural need is supposed to be a trend these days; bringing the outside in, breathing fresh air, and even using common Scandinavian phrases, such as ‘friluftsliv’ to label it a philosophy. I think we all know, even those who make money off it, that living with as much nature around you as possible is not a philosophy - it’s possibly a lifestyle, but a very natural one, in that case.
Here are a few ways you can feel a bit more like nature and get back to basics, without only keeping succulents or spending all of your savings on building fancy tree houses.
Find Your Plant
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a few plants die on me. It’s sad and makes you feel like a bad plant parent; I even avoided replacing the poor thing altogether, out of fear that I might ruin another one. The truth is that some plants will simply hate it close to your bathroom or right by your window. As they’re plants and not people, they don’t want to move around at all - so find the one that’s right for a particular spot. These plants are good for your bathroom, for example, while these would prefer it far away from a window.
Find the Light
Soaking up sunlight is wonderful for your mood, and you should do your best to bathe your entire home in it every morning. If your windows are old and frail, it’s a good time to invest in new ones and make sure they make your home as bright and airy as possible. I know it’s a bit of an investment, but replacement windows can make a big difference in how your home feels - especially if they weren’t really much to look at. If you go for the low e-glazed glass to save energy, you don’t need to worry about your plant’s health either, according to this article.
Use Colors
Another thing we do that has been labeled a trend lately; using fruits and vegetables on display to brighten up a home. Although it certainly adds a splash of color in your kitchen and on your living room table, it’s something you do for the sake of the fruit itself. Bananas, for example, would happily stay in your fruit bowl rather than your fridge - the same goes for cucumbers and tomatoes. They will taste a lot better that way, and you don’t have to bite into a cold banana when you want one.
Surrounding yourself with nature is not a philosophy or a trend - it’s the way it should be, and we better teach this to our children. The Norwegian ‘friluftsliv’ does not include communicating with nature or having a calm mind; it is just an umbrella term for camping, walking in the forest, and even hunting. If you’d like more of this in your life, simply go out there and do it - nothing fancy, and no hocus-pocus to it.
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