Overdue for a mental detox in nature?

 

A walk in the park is great but may not always cut it if you need to clear your head. Shutting off the lights to meditate is nice to cleanse your mind but is not always enriching. If you can afford to spend a full day or two (or three) offline and surrounded by the natural world you are sure to come back refreshed and invigorated.

 

The first miraculous discovery once you disconnect and commit to a nature detox is realizing the rest of the world is functioning and there is nothing you can do till you are back online. Step two is to be amazed, humbled, and reminded of the power and beauty of nature. The old growth of a tree, or crashing of waves, or the song of birds are all easy triggers to make your feel small in this vast world. Then look deeper to the decay of leaves or the gentle growth of sea algae to notice the clear connectivity and balance of it all- and that you are a part of it.

 

For some it may take two or three days before they start to let go. Others might never fully shut off but at least be able to work through their priorities and recenter their lives. On my most recent trek I wasn’t able to completely forget the rest of the world existed but I at least worked through some stresses that were getting me down. More so it is the persistence and fragility of nature that reminds us we are a small part of this moving world.

 

No matter where you live there is likely a National Park or reserve close enough that you can make a weekend or at least a day out of. Plenty of these places are free to visit but if you have the means, you can really make an impact by visiting a park, reserve, or protected area where your entrance fee goes towards conservation measures. It is an easy way to help fund a conservation project while also providing much needed PR so others know they can make the same impact.

 

You would be amazed on how many individuals you can inspire by sharing a photo of yourself out in nature. Family and friends will comment on how they should plan something similar soon, just from seeing your post on social media.

 

It is great to demonstrate how you don’t have to be a life-long mountaineer to visit a National Park. Many don’t realize how easily they can make their way to a park or reserve- and even more are unaware that their visit can directly support the places they go.

 

My husband painstakingly organized a trek through the Routeburn Trail near Queenstown, New Zealand which is one of the best things you can do if you save a handful of vacation days. It was a three day, two night, hike and camp on one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks covering nearly 35km and going over mountains rivers, and grasslands. All images in this article are from our experience on the Routeburn Trail.

 

The hike was long, exactly 300% all uphill, and I wasn’t packed appropriately for the cold. But was all worth it to witness the sheer majesty of the mountains, forests, and waterfalls. This humbling experience in the vast expanse quickly grounded my priorities and allowed for a quick check-in with my inner self. Also knowing our camping dollars support the maintenance and protection of the park left us feeling we contributed in some way.

 

Plus, after hitting the highest peak and our final descent, what a great feeling to share our experience with friends and family.

What about your next trek into nature? Where do you want to go next? If you have any questions or need other ideas, feel free to reach out. If there is any way SEVENSEAS Media can help connect you or amplify your impact, do not hesitate to contact us.

Cheers,

Giacomo Abrusci, Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief

The mission of SEVENSEAS Media is to connect individuals and resources inside and out of the conservation community to further the shared goal of preventing habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. Since our creation, we’ve been achieving this mission through:

• Running community building projects in 174 countries
• Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
• Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
• Publishing over 400 authors, photographers and researchers
• Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content and a compelling conservation message.