Do you have a nature habit? Have you made nature part of your daily or weekly rhythm? Sometimes it is hard to make “getting outside” a priority, even when we know the benefits, including recent studies showing the importance of sunlight to vision!

I’ve just finished skimming the book The ONE Thing* by Gary Keller. The premise of the book (highly recommended!) is that in order to have more of what we want in our life, we need to focus on less. Our focus needs to be on our ONE thing. He acknowledges that we will have many priorities in our lives, but each of us has something that matters most and that is our ONE thing.
Right now, my ONE Thing is getting myself and my children outside every day, as a habit. Just as we eat every day, and we sleep every day — we go outside every day. To notice, to know, to be.

The ONE Thing is full of quotes which inspire me to making going outside a daily habit.

At the end of Chapter 2: The Domino Effect, Gary says:

The key is over time. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time.

The benefits of time in nature happen over time. Getting out every day — whatever the weather — will get us there.

Chapter 4: Everything Matters Equally opens with a quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

This is followed by:

The things which are most important don’t always scream the loudest. –Bob Hawke

Everyone’s “matters most” will be different from their “matters least” – but the thing that screams the loudest for our attention likely isn’t time in nature. And it probably comes via an electronic device of some kind.   At least, that generally is the case in my house.

So how do we make nature time a habit?

Well, in Chapter 6: A Disciplined Life, Gary tells us:

There is this pervasive idea that the successful person is the “disciplined person” who leads a “disciplined life.”

It’s a lie.

He says that we don’t need more discipline; we need more habit. And just enough discipline to form that habit. How long to form a habit? More than the often cited 21 or 28 days, apparently. Gary references a University College of London study which found it takes, on average, 66 days to form a habit. Yesterday was our family’s 34^th day of getting outside in a row – we’re halfway to a habit!

A final quote from the book I will share is by F.M. Alexander and comes from Chapter 12: The Path to Great Answers:

People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.

What habits are deciding your future?  Do you have a nature habit?  Leave a comment or share a link and let us know!

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On the rare occasion that I’m walking the dog or driving the car alone, I enjoy listening to podcasts. Here are my 3 favorites about the importance of nature in kids’, and all of our, lives!

1) Nature Kids Radio with Kenny Ballentine

Kenny blogs at A Sense of Wonder and is the founder of The Nature Kids Institute. I started listening with Episode 1 and was hooked. Saving what we love, creating a passion for nature, solve problems forming deep connections with natue, getting outside to learn — all these things are discussed by Kenny and his guests.

So far only 5 episodes have been produced; I’m looking forward to many more!

2) Parenting Adventures Podcast with Michael Stelzner

Michael is the founder of My Kids Adventures website, which encourages families to have fun together – many of suggested activities are outside in nature! The podcast episodes that focus on nature include sticks, dirt, wildlife, and exploring the outdoors. I wish this podcast was still on going, but at least there are 12 to enjoy!

3) S’more Outdoor with Brett Traudt

I love this name, so clever!  Brett’s podcast isn’t focused on kids but rather interviewing business folks who have been positively influenced by their time in nature.  Sometimes seeing the long term effects of nature makes me more inclined to take my kids outside, even when I don’t feel like it.  Brett’s S’more Outdoor website includes nice links to state & national parks in the USA.

I originally started out listening to Brett’s Get S’more Outdoor podcast where he rambled about the “nature effect” and “recovering childlike wonder” – Brett appreciates nature and wants to share it!

Do you have any recommendations for podcasts that encourage getting out in nature?  Please share!

“We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”

This quote by the esteemed 19^th century British educator, Charlotte Mason, gives glimpse of what a naturalist is.  To be a naturalist is to care about plant and animal life, to marvel in the natural world, to be what we were all meant to be.

But how do we attain such a lofty-seeming goal when the noise of technology, the glorification of busy, and the endless to-do list threaten to drown out the quiet marvels of plant and animal life?

We need a plan. Here is mine:

Step 1.  Go outside.  Stay as long as possible.

Step 2. Repeat step one as often as possible.

Actually, it might not be quite so simple.  After all, my children and I are now 5 for 5 days of spending at least an hour a day out in nature – no matter the weather! And while each day has been a delight, we need a little more guidance if we are to become naturalists in our degree.

Thankfully, I have found a simple, doable plan.  Check out How to Grow a Naturalist in 5 Easy Steps by The Heart of Michelle.  My children and I are succeeding at Step 1, and I’ve made a written list for the fridge of the next 4 steps to keep me focused.

Please share how you are – or are becoming – a naturalist!  Let’s learn from each other!

If you’d like to read more about Charlotte Mason’s thoughts on the importance of time in nature, her writings are available online.  This particular quote comes from Volume 1 of Home Education, Part 2, Out-of-door Life for the Children, page 61.