Say what you will, but I don't think we were designed to live this way.
What way, you ask?
Well, exactly the way we are living right now. As corporate zombies. Moving from one day to the next - rarely mindful, mostly on autopilot.
Don’t agree with me? Just rewind a hundred years ago. Okay, not even a hundred, rewind forty years ago. What kind of life did we lead then? Were we glued to our desks, stuck to our screens, following a numbing routine in the glare of clinically white lights? Or were we out and about - in nature and among people, soaking in the soft yellow rays of the sun?
I firmly believe it. We were meant for the great outdoors. To live young, wild and free. Okay, maybe not forever young but you get the drift. It was a more ‘natural’ way of living. A lifestyle we now seem to have lost touch with.
But it’s not too late. You can still re-wild your life. All you need is that determination that lies within you. Be ready to find the clarity and purpose you seek beyond the walled desks of your workspace. Beyond the 9-hour shifts you can carry on each day.
Let me get you started.
Go out in the wild
A pretty obvious first step to ‘rewilding’ yourself is to go out in the great big outdoors. Chalk out time in your busy schedule to actually and actively engage with nature everyday. Even if it’s in small amounts in easily accessible places.
What I am saying is, you don’t have to plan a trip to the forest to reconnect with nature. Just go to your local park. Sit on the bench. Watch the trees, the greenery and the birds and squirrels. Feel the breeze against your face. It’s better than spending 90% of your time indoors in a building breathing in recycled air.
Once you sit in the midst of nature, you will automatically find your mind emptying out the clutter that’s clogged in its corners and crevices. What will be left is clarity. What will follow is purpose.
Move A lot.
Movement is part of being human. Our bodies are designed for running, jumping, bending, twisting and performing a range of locomotions. Not so long ago - the world was largely agrarian and people rarely sat for more than 3-4 hours in a day. That was our natural way of being. Today being sedentary has become normalised. Most people sit at their desks, either for work or recreation, for 10-15 hours a day- this includes office workers and students. Housework too, has almost all been automated with robotic vacuum cleaners, remote controls for fans and air conditioners, lighting that can be controlled from the phone.
Where’s the need to get up anymore, right?
Well, there should be a need. A need to get up and move.
Movement is how your mind exercises in tandem with your body. It’s how your body remains fit and the joints stay lubricated. It’s how the mind calms the nervous energy that often builds up after a long day. Ever notice how you come back from a run or a walk feeling more energised and happy? This is true for both indoor and outdoor exercising. Moving more may actually give you more energy for the rest of the day. And, here’s the best part, moving more can actually be a great motivator.
Now you may ask, ok so it helps us get physically and mentally healthy – but how is it equivalent to rewilding. Well, it is - because so many years ago when we spent most of our time outdoors, movement was an integral part of our way of being. When we were connected to nature, we didn’t sit in one place for long. We moved and we were active.
Take that wild break too
Staying connected to nature should be both about doing it everyday as well as doing it for extended breaks. Trust me, it’ll be restorative for your health.
In fact, studies show that if you spend at least four days in the lap of nature, your creativity and cognition automatically improves. It’s like a magic elixir designed to rejuvenate and recharge. Other studies also show that rewilding can reduce your cortisol levels, thereby boosting your mood, lowering your blood pressure, improving your immune response and leaving you happier.
So you have a lot of good coming your way if you only go down the road not yet taken. However, if you cannot plan a trip just yet, make sure you spend a few hours a week in nature. Explore your city for interesting places to experience nature. Maybe plan an outdoorsy weekend with the family or with your friends - biking, hiking or walking outdoors. You’ll have plenty of fun and reap all the benefits.
Get uncomfortable
Sounds like a weird thing to say, right? But ‘no pain, no gain’ is sort of a universal truth. If you want to achieve greater clarity and purpose through the means of rewilding, you have to will yourself into doing things the thinking-you is not that comfortable with.
Now wait a minute, this is not supposed to stress you out, okay? Not negatively anyway. This is all about letting your body go through a certain amount of stress to promote the development of adaptive responses - which is also known as hormesis. This is beneficial for both your mind and body.
So what can you do? Well, if you’re a healthy individual, you can start by embracing the discomfort nature brings. If you usually go for walks in your neighbourhood, explore a new area. If you go to gentrified places for a walk, try hiking up the hill. Basically it’s all about learning to embrace the discomfort of rain, heat, mud, sharp rocks, brambles and the unknown. These short-term discomforts will help boost your body’s resistance and make you fitter. It will also bolster your self confidence and help make you less fearful and more resilient.
Go bare feet
Think of the last time you felt wet earth underneath your feet. Can’t remember, right? I thought so. As you grew older, the whole concept of splashing around in the mud became too icky. But guess what? It’s a part of rewilding and it’s good for you. Whether it’s raining or not.
In fact, walking barefoot on grass is a well known remedy for strengthening the immune system. The stimulation on the feet’s nerve endings enhances blood circulation which also means more oxygen and nutrients are delivered throughout the body. As a student, I remember my parents would encourage me to walk barefoot on the grass when I had to learn something by heart, like a poem. The cool, damp grass under my feet certainly helped to energise and calm me, making conditions just perfect for memorising.
Going bare feet can also strengthen your feet, which tend to become weak over time because of all the extra support they get from today’s well cushioned footwear. Now, the suggestion here is not to walk barefoot all the time. Your feet obviously need protection from the elements. But they also need a certain amount of exposure. So a few minutes everyday is ideal. You’ll end up feeling more grounded and connected.
Eat wild
Think berries, fresh fruits and nuts picked straight from a garden. Another source of motivation to rewild yourself and actually eat healthy in the process! You can use picking out fruits and berries as an excuse to spend more time in nature. The bonus is that this also works as a great way to ditch the junk and satisfy your cravings with micronutrients that are actually healthy for you.
At the core of rewilding is the simple desire to lead a more purposeful life that isn’t lost and confused in the concrete maze of long work hours and stress overload. Break that exhausting cycle of work, stress, and more work by moving more and enjoying the outdoors. And, if you really are exhausted, and feel you can’t get a break, reach out to a life coach. There’s support to be had, which can transform your life.
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