Self Regulation

Observation in nature is a sample activity for the Self Regulation chapter.

Title

Observation in nature

Area

the body and senses
the emotions
the mind and beliefs
the universe

Methodology

Self Regulation

Aim of the activity

The aim of the exercise is to broaden your knowledge of the influence of the environment on regulation.

Target group

parents
the adult educators
parents with kids

Duration

20 min

Description

  1. Go to a place where you can feel closer to nature. If you have the opportunity to go out to the park or the forest, this will be a good place to make observations and take exercises. 
  2. At the beginning of your visit to a place where you can experience nature, try to take 3 deep breaths. Describe what are you feeling now based on these questions: 
  • Rate on a 1-10 scale how stressed you feel (1 means a very low stress level, 10 means a very high tension level).
  • What do you feel in your body? If you feel tension, describe it (what it is and where it is located).
  • What emotions are you experiencing now? Do you feel joy, anger, sadness?
  • What thoughts are coming to your mind? If you want, please quote them.
  1. And now I encourage you to take a mindful walk.  Switch off the phone. Try to be here and now. Observe the individual elements of nature. Try not to drift away with your thoughts over your daily duties and necessities. 
  1. Spend like this around 15 minutes and then answer the questions:
  • Rate on a 1-10 scale how stressed you feel (1 means a very low stress level, 10 means a very high tension level).
  • What do you feel in your body? If you feel tension, describe it (what it is and where it is located).
  • What emotions are you experiencing now? Do you feel joy, anger, sadness?
  • What thoughts are coming to your mind? If you want, please quote them.
  1. What has changed?
  2. What was difficult?
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Reflection

Many people who experience stress feel much better after spending time in nature.
For some of them a walk in the forest may be helpful, for others plunging into the water, stroking an animal, hugging a tree, listening to the sounds of nature (even from the YouTube recording), or talking to a house plant.
What could be your way to experience nature?

Source

Tools
e-learning platform
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