When people hear the phrase “living more naturally“, they often imagine a complete lifestyle transformation.
They picture growing all of their own food, making everything from scratch, living off grid or spending their weekends foraging in remote woodlands.
For many people, it can feel overwhelming before they’ve even started.
The reality is often much simpler
My own journey towards a more natural way of living didn’t begin with a dramatic life change. It started with curiosity.
Four years ago, I couldn’t have identified many of the plants growing around me. I certainly wasn’t making herbal infusions, growing vegetables from seed or paying much attention to the changing seasons.
Like many people, I was busy. Life revolved around work, family commitments and the endless demands of modern life.
Yet what began as a desire to spend more time outdoors gradually evolved into a much deeper appreciation for nature and the simple practices that help us feel more connected to it.
View the Recipe on Estelle’s Instagram
The good news is that living more naturally doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul.
In fact, some of the most meaningful changes often start with the smallest steps.
Here are some of the beginner-friendly ways that helped me reconnect with nature and develop a more mindful approach to everyday life.
Start by Spending More Time Outdoors
If there is one piece of advice I would give anyone wanting to live more naturally, it would be this: spend more time outside.
It sounds obvious, but many of us spend the majority of our days indoors.
We move from our homes to our cars, from our cars to offices, shops or schools, often experiencing very little of the natural world in between.
My own journey started with simple walks.
At first, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I simply wanted some fresh air and a break from screens.
Over time, those walks became one of the most important parts of my routine.
Walking outdoors gave me space to think, process ideas and decompress from the pressures of daily life.
It also encouraged me to notice things I had previously overlooked.
The changing colours of the trees.
Birdsong in the early morning.
Wildflowers appearing along familiar routes.
You don’t need to climb mountains or complete lengthy hikes to experience the benefits.
A local park, nature reserve, woodland trail or even a short walk around your neighbourhood can be enough.
Research continues to highlight the positive effects that spending time in nature can have on mental wellbeing, stress reduction and overall health.
The key is consistency rather than distance.
Learn the Names of the Plants Around You
One of the most surprising changes for me was how much more enjoyable walking became once I started learning about the plants around me.
Before, a walk was simply a walk.
Now, it feels like an opportunity to discover something new.
One of the easiest ways to begin living more naturally is to develop curiosity about the natural world.
Start asking questions.
- What tree is that?
- What flower is growing by the path?
- Why are there so many bees visiting that particular plant?
You don’t need to become an expert botanist overnight.
Simple plant identification apps and guidebooks can help you learn gradually.
The more plants you recognise, the more connected you begin to feel to your surroundings.
A walk through the countryside becomes far more engaging when you understand what you are looking at.
You start to notice seasonal changes, local wildlife and the interconnected relationships that exist within nature.
What once appeared ordinary suddenly becomes fascinating.
Grow Something, No Matter How Small
One of the biggest misconceptions about gardening is that you need a large outdoor space.
You don’t.
Some of the most rewarding things I have grown started in small pots and containers.
Tomatoes, herbs, marigolds and sweet peas can all thrive in relatively small spaces. Even a sunny windowsill can provide enough room to begin growing something. There is something incredibly satisfying about planting a seed and watching it develop.
In a world where so much happens instantly, gardening teaches patience.
You cannot rush a tomato plant.
You cannot force a flower to bloom before it is ready.
Nature works to its own timetable.
That lesson alone can be surprisingly powerful.
Growing food has also given me a much greater appreciation for where food comes from.
When you have spent weeks caring for a plant, watering it and protecting it from pests, you view the final harvest very differently.
You don’t need to grow enough food to feed your family.
Simply growing one herb, one vegetable, or one flower can be enough to spark a deeper connection with nature.
Pay Attention to the Seasons
Modern life has a way of making every month feel remarkably similar.
Our supermarkets stock the same products year-round. Our homes are temperature-controlled, and our routines often remain consistent regardless of the season.
As a result, many of us lose touch with nature’s natural rhythms.
One of the simplest ways to live more naturally is to start noticing the seasons.
Pay attention to what is happening outdoors.
Look for the first signs of spring.
Notice when elderflowers begin to bloom.
Watch as blackberries appear later in the year.
Observe how the colours change throughout autumn.
Listen to the different sounds that accompany each season.
This awareness encourages us to slow down and become more present.
It reminds us that nature is constantly changing and evolving.
Many traditional ways of living were closely linked to seasonal cycles. Food was eaten when it was available. Activities changed according to the weather, and people naturally adapted their routines throughout the year.
While modern life doesn’t always allow us to live this way completely, simply becoming more aware of seasonal changes can foster a stronger connection to the natural world.
Try a Simple Nature-Based Project
One of the reasons I became more interested in natural living was because I started experimenting.
I quickly discovered that nature offers endless opportunities to learn new skills.
Many of these projects are surprisingly simple and require very little equipment.
- You might try making an elderflower cordial during spring.
- Create a dandelion-infused oil.
- Dry herbs to make your own herbal teas.
- Press flowers collected during walks.
- Start a nature journal documenting seasonal changes in your local area.
These activities are not only enjoyable, but they also encourage us to slow down.
Many involve repetitive, mindful tasks that help shift our attention away from screens and towards the present moment.
There is also something deeply satisfying about creating something with your own hands.
In recent years, I have found that some of the activities that bring me the greatest sense of calm are often the simplest.
Gathering flowers.
Planting seeds.
Making herbal infusions.
Observing wildlife.
These moments may seem small, yet collectively they can have a significant impact on wellbeing.
Spend Less Time Consuming and More Time Observing
This has perhaps been one of the biggest lessons nature has taught me.
Modern life encourages constant consumption. We consume news, content, entertainment, emails, notifications and information throughout the day.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with technology, it can leave very little room for observation.
Nature encourages a different mindset.
Instead of consuming, we observe.
We watch clouds moving across the sky.
We notice insects visiting flowers.
We listen to birdsong.
We become aware of the subtle details that are often overlooked.
One simple practice I have adopted is replacing a small amount of screen time with time outdoors.
Sometimes that means sitting in the garden with a cup of tea.
Sometimes it means taking a short walk.
Sometimes it simply means spending ten minutes observing what is happening around me.
These small moments create opportunities to pause and reconnect.
They remind us that life is not always about productivity.
Sometimes it is enough to simply notice.
Accept That It Is a Journey
One of the mistakes people often make when embracing a more natural lifestyle is assuming they need to do everything immediately.
The reality is that nature rarely works that way.
Nothing blooms overnight.
Growth takes time.
Learning takes time.
Connection takes time.
I am still learning every day.
There are countless plants I cannot identify. There are skills I want to develop and projects I hope to try.
Yet that ongoing curiosity is part of the enjoyment.
Living more naturally is not about perfection.
It is not about creating an ideal lifestyle that looks impressive on social media.
It is about developing a deeper relationship with the world around you and finding practices that support your wellbeing.
For some people, that might be gardening.
For others, it could be walking, birdwatching, growing herbs or spending more time in local green spaces.
There is no right or wrong approach.
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
Looking back, I am often surprised by how much has changed over the past four years.
What started as a simple desire to spend more time outdoors has influenced almost every area of my life.
I feel more connected to nature.
More aware of the changing seasons.
More appreciative of the resources and beauty that surround us every day.
Most importantly, I have learned that living more naturally does not require dramatic lifestyle changes.
It begins with curiosity.
A walk through a local woodland.
A tomato plant growing on a windowsill.
Learning the name of a flower you have walked past countless times.
Spending a little less time looking at a screen and a little more time observing the world around you.
These small actions may seem insignificant at first.
Yet over time, they have the power to transform how we think, how we feel and how we experience everyday life.
My own journey started with a simple decision to spend more time outdoors and pay attention to what I found there.
Four years later, I am still learning, still exploring and still discovering that some of life’s greatest lessons can often be found in nature.
