Why You Should Have An Outdoor Sanctuary

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Where do you go when the stress of life piles up? How do you decompress after a rough day at school or work?

Many of us turn to nature as a remedy for anxiety, stress, or general feelings of malcontent. A calming stream can lead us to inner peace, and a copse of trees slightly swaying in the wind can serve as a refuge from the intensity of urban living. Reconnecting with nature is a wonderful tool for improving our overall health and well-being, but you don’t have to take a hike in the woods or go camping to reap the benefits of the outdoors. There’s plenty of green space and healing potential right in your own backyard.

Creating an outdoor sanctuary is a relatively simple endeavor that can make a huge difference in your day-to-day life. Here’s the low-down on identifying your sacred space and transforming it into a personal temple of healing and serenity.

SEE ALSO: 9 Essential Rules For Conscious Eating

Potential Healing Benefits of the Outdoors

Modern life moves at a breakneck pace — we’re constantly on the move, and thus prone to bouts of stress, depression, and anxiety. Even though anxiety may help foster our spiritual growth, it doesn’t need to control our lives. Spending time outdoors is one of the best natural anxiety remedies out there. But Mother Nature has more up her sleeve where our overall health is concerned. Research shows that spending time outside may improve your short-term memory, eliminate fatigue, and lower your blood pressure. While you can simply take a walk through the park to reap the healing benefits of nature, creating your own unique oasis escape can be immensely therapeutic.

Identifying and Personalizing Your Sanctuary

Your personal outdoor sanctuary can be a particular, beloved mountain range, the picturesque beach where you once happily vacationed with your family, or a lot closer to home. No matter the size of your outdoor space, you can turn it into a sanctuary. And there’s no need to worry about cost: You can revitalize and create your sanctuary in an economical, eco-friendly way, with just a little imagination.

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Start your sanctuary project by assessing your space and giving it a facelift — get rid of clutter, prune overgrown plants, and generally spruce up the area. Comfort is a key element of any sacred space, so make sure your foundation is sound. Whether your seat of choice is a bamboo mat on the ground, hammock, or snug lounge chair, it should be the centerpiece of your outdoor sanctuary. If you have garden or patio furnishings that are comfy but have been worn and weathered by the elements over time, this is the perfect time to refinish your outdoor furniture. A fresh coat of paint can give your beloved patio set a new lease on life and keep it out of the landfill. And if you’re handy with a sewing machine, it’s easy to personalize chair cushions in a whimsical fabric pattern.

Next, determine the components you desire that will transform your tranquil outdoor space into a true “sanctuary”.

Elements of Harmonious Outdoor Spaces

What’s important to you in a temple or sanctuary? Consider all the elements — sights, smells, sounds — that encompass your sacred place.

Do the sounds of nature bring you peace? Placing a bird feeder in or near your sanctuary can attract avian beauty, filling the air with chirps and birdsong. Wind chimes often blend harmoniously with the melodies of the natural world, so including a chime handcrafted from bamboo, glass, or recycled metal in your sanctuary may serve as the space’s intrinsic cornerstone. If you have a large outdoor space and find comfort in the aromas of home cooking and bonfires, consider including a grill or fireplace in your sanctuary plan. Whether your outdoor fireplace ideas involve an open fire pit or a brick-lined chimenea, fire is an intrinsic part of human life, and its warm, healing power can connect us with our ancestors and fundamental humanity. You’ll especially appreciate an outdoor fireplace on chilly evenings.

Final Thoughts

As we have seen, being outside does wonders for both your physical and mental health. By having an outdoor sanctuary you can use on a regular basis, your bodily and spiritual health will be in balance. Whether your personalized sanctuary is a minimalist garden paradise featuring a mat and wind chime, or an expansive deck space where you can cook and entertain guests, it can help you achieve serenity every time you step outside your back door.