Stay connected with the wider world

Getting outside can be a great mood booster; being connected to nature has been shown to reduce stress and help with creativity.

Here are a few things you can do to help you connect with nature and the wider world.

Head out for a walk or jog around the block each day.
You could start a nature notebook or photography journal. Find nature everywhere! National Geographic offers an inspirational online guide, Finding Urban Nature.
You could create your own DIY compost bin.
It’s a good time to learn about gardening, and to find out about local produce, where your food comes from and what grows during this time of year. A great page to follow is big city gardener.
When going for walks, or even just around the house, take a picture everyday of a flower and journal those pictures or post them on Instagram/stories as an online journal or reminder of how you got through the hard times. Try to smell the flowers and record the smells too!
If you live near a park or a grassy area take your shoes off and soak your feet in in the morning dew and feel the different textures.

Do some window watching! If you don’t have access to a window with a view, put some up some pictures of nature you love, or play a relaxing natural soundtrack.
Open your blinds and windows at least twice a day to let sunlight and air in.
Perhaps you could do some star-gazing, bird-watching or cloud-spotting.
Stay connected with nature electronically. Check out the Department of Conservation’s live albatross cam
There are also free nature documentaries on our own library's online database.
UoA's Sustainability and Environment Engagement Coordinator Charlotte recommends Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram as her top nature read. It’s a great time to learn about plants and herbs that you can grow from home.
Now is a good time to grow your composting skills, or think about reducing your contribution to household organic waste. You can learn different ways and tips of doing this online at compost collective.
Get inspired by the likes of Peaceful Seeds.
Try an online farmers market with local and organic produce at Maker 2 U.
Many zoos have started LiveCams in their animal enclosures, so while you study you can have some meerkats or penguins roaming around in the background because, why not! Try San Diego.
Listen to nature sounds on Spotify or Youtube.
The DOC website has a number of different online courses from wildlife, to field skills and bird spotting techniques.