Have You Taken a Moment to Appreciate Nature?

Before we dive into today’s reflection, a quick reminder: if you’re craving more intention and calm in your daily life, my go-to tool is the Undated Daily Planner. It’s perfect for slowing down and reconnecting—with nature, and with yourself.

We are living in the age of notification, glowing screen, and nonstop whir of. yeah, everything. Heads are forward, thumbs crazily swiping, minds hardly thinking about actual miles we could be going. But I have to ask you something, buddy, and come on: have you really laid eyes on nature lately? I mean, seen it?

I'm not talking about that fuzzy green whooshing by your car window on the way to that all-important Zoom meeting. Or that stylishly filtered sunbeam that magically landed on your page. I'm talking about the raw, unfiltered, actually fascinating reality just beyond our doors — if only for a darn moment we'd take the time to look up.

Take it in. When did you last sit to watch a bee, legs loaded with pollen, busy making its way across a bloom? Or hold the cool moist earth in your hand? Or actually hear the music of a forest — leaves scuttling, chirping chorus, maybe even the outraged squawk of a blue jay who's had enough of your stopstill hanging around by now?

If your answer depends hugely on mental archaeology, then Houston, we have a problem. And quite frankly, the squirrels are getting anxious. I swear I spotted one the other day side-eyeing me as it buried a nut with the sort of exasperated sigh my mother saves for my questionable life choices.

We’ve become so removed, so protected in our air-conditioned bubbles, that we’re forgetting how to be connected to a simple aspect of living. Nature isn’t a picturesque backdrop for our Instagram stories; it’s the content of our lives. It’s the oxygen that we breathe, the water that we drink, the source of inspiration for millions of artworks and scientific achievements. It’s the intricate, confounding system that sustains us all.

And it’s not just the grand scenery, the imposing mountains, or the crashing surf (though those are rather remarkable). It’s in the small, mundane miracles too. The obdurate dandelion pushing its way up through a crack in the pavement. The intricate patterns on a withered leaf. The sunlight filtering through the canopy and casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

As you begin to notice the world around you again—the breeze, the rustling leaves, the quiet moments—capture that clarity. Even a short note each day in something like the Undated Daily Planner can help you preserve those insights and keep them close.

Taking the time to truly appreciate nature isn’t some New Age, tree-hugging ritual (although, hey, no judgment if that’s your thing). It’s an act of self-love. Research has proven that time spent in nature can lower stress levels, increase creativity, and even make our bodies healthier. It’s a reset button for our overstimulated brains, a reminder that there’s a whole world out there working on a different, much slower, beat.

So what can you do? It doesn’t take an epic trip to the Amazon (though that would be kind of cool). Start small.

• Take a contemplative stroll: Put your phone in your pocket and actually observe what’s around you. Note the colors, the textures, the sounds.

• Find a sit spot: Choose a place in nature — a park bench, a grassy area, even your balcony — and simply sit there for 10–15 minutes. Observe what’s happening without judgment or expectation.

• Connect with your senses: Pay attention to what you smell, what you feel, what you hear. The scent of wet soil after a rainstorm? The warmth of the sun on your skin? The sound of a bird call in the distance?

• Bring the outdoors inside: A simple houseplant is a small but significant connection to the outside world. And they’re great listeners (most of the time).

The world beyond our windows is a wonder, a resilience, a stunning beauty waiting to be seen, to be cherished, to remind us of being part of something greater than our every-day task lists.

So go ahead. Step out. Breathe deeply. Truly look at what’s about you. The squirrels appreciate it. And even more, so do you.

Nature doesn’t ask for much—just your attention. If you’re ready to make that a daily ritual, the Undated Daily Planner is a simple, supportive place to start.