Time to Get Outside!
In this often ridiculous, tech-driven world, spending hours in front of a computer screen has become a common part of daily life. Especially for people like me who depend on it for a living!
This constant digital immersion can lead to a feeling of being disconnected from the natural world. In my case, I've always been addicted to technology ever since I was a little kid. If I wasn't on my Atari 800 or Nintendo (depending on the year) I was taking something apart - and sometimes putting things back together!
Even so, I always found time to go out and ride my bike for miles and spend endless hours in creeks and climbing trees. I would get so far away from home that I'd wonder how the heck I would get home before dark sometimes.
They say that we 80s kids were the last of the feral children. Well, I don't know if I've heard that exact phrase but I like the sound of it. Haha! That was definitely me in any case. But truth be told, I have spent years trying to get back that childhood relationship with nature that I once had. I always feel like I am chasing the feeling of mystery and wonder that I once had while running through the woods and turning over every rock.
The Nature of Our Stress
Our bodies and minds weren't designed for the constant bombardment of screens and the sedentary lifestyle that often accompanies them. The digital age has brought forth an array of stressors, such as screen fatigue, information overload, lack of physical activity and by far the worst in my opinion being lack of connection with nature.
I believe that the loss of that sense of wonder and connection comes from a person believing that somehow they understand everything, so there is nothing left to be amazed about. This is a fallacy that is at the root of our misery as far as I'm concerned. This has been something really helpful for me when I was learning to meditate properly. When we allow ourselves to actually see that we really don't know anything at all, the mystery very rapidly opens back up. And that feeling can be quite strong and surprising!
Going out for a walk in nature can really help in a lot of unexpected ways. It's funny how sometimes I can get so depressed and just feeling generally crappy, yet in the moment I can't think of anything that can make me feel better. However, if somehow I manage to get out for a walk I get that familiar feeling of "Ohhh yeah. This!"
A walk in nature also allows you to temporarily disconnect from your devices, providing a break from the digital world. This escape helps create a balance between your online and offline life. Well, that is, unless you are one of those people (who I see a lot of) who bring their phone with them and walk while texting the entire time. I guess anything is better than nothing!
In my experience, simply getting outside can really make a difference for that work-induced stress. It's a great chance to break away from those screens, giving your body and mind a much-needed boost, and finding that sense of connection again.
In this world of never ending distractions, a nature stroll is a wake-up call for us to slow down, breathe in the fresh air, and let nature work its wonders.
So, the next time you're drowning in the madness, do yourself a favor and take a timeout to soak up some o' them nature vibes.
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I agree with you the digital age has rubbed us off some goodness like enjoying nature and its beauty, but I still enjoy that once in a while especially when I am overwhelmed or stressed, it's good to take some time off to allow the body and mind repair and then come back rejuvenated.
It's like a reset button for our body and brain. Nature has a unique way of grounding us and offering a sense of peace that's hard to find anywhere else!
By the way, I noticed you are only voting for 1 witness - I would recommend using up all of your 30 votes as it helps to keep the blockchain decentralized!
Teach me how to go about it, you know I will always support you, my friend.
Which front end are you using? Peakd?
Yes
Cool! Just go to the witnesses page. You can click your name at the top right drop down and select 'witnesses' which will bring you there, or you can just go here: https://peakd.com/me/witnesses
Same thing. Then scroll all the way down. lol! I am at #129 right now. You just have to click the little check box next to my name.
Am I clicking on that small green circle?
#hive #posh
Love everything you wrote, my man.
Sounds like your childhood was a lot like mine. Replace Atari 800 with Commodore 64, but otherwise I was the same on both ends, playing on computer and taking things apart to learn how they worked like my grandpa's radios, and riding my bike for hours outside until it got dark and the streetlights came on. Good times.
I hear you about the lack of connection to nature and the other problems brought on by technology these days. I love getting away from it all, either camping or just taking a walk. It always heals my mind and makes me feel better.
I never had the Commodore 64, but I did trade some kid something (can't remember what) for a Commodore Plus/4. I was really used to Atari BASIC so I never really mastered the Commodore flavor, but I did play with it quite a bit. Those were really fun times as far as computers are concerned. It was all so magical for me at the time. I really had no idea how limited these machines were!
Using BASIC on those old things, that brings back memories. I remember when I learned at school go to fill the screen with my name and that seemed like such witchcraft. Do you remember those old computer magazines that had three or four pages of nothing but BASIC code at the end to type in? It was usually something silly like a simple game. I'd spend hours trying to type them in.
Oh yeah! That is actually how I learned to write code. They would have the same program in various flavors of BASIC.
Actually, the way it finally started to click for me what the commands were doing was when I was at school where they had a TRS-80 and a stack of PC Computing magazines. There was a particular program that I wanted to write, but it was only available in Apple BASIC.
So line by line I looked through the TRS-80 manual and managed to translate the differences. It took me like a week. (The teachers were scared of the computer, but let me use it all I wanted, since no one else would touch it)
I was amazed when the program actually ran, but not impressed when I saw how lame the actual game was. Lol! At least I learned something, though.
In a bid to be familiar with the artificial world, we have neglect the natural world and this has made us to downplay the importance of nature to our existence
Also it is so important to our physical health. Sitting around causes a lot of aches and pains that are so easy to remedy by just moving around a bit.
I totally agree with you. That is part of the reason that my wife and I go camping so much each summer. It just give us the chance to connect with nature and kind of re center ourselves. Even when we go on non camping trips, we try to add some elements of nature into it. Our trip to Hocking Hills a couple years ago was a perfect example. So many trails to hike and wonderful things to see. It was so refreshing!
I really miss camping to tell you the truth. @afturner likes a version of what she calls camping, but I don't really agree that it's the same thing. She overpacks and makes it too complicated. Plus she hates bugs and getting dirty so it makes it a bit challenging. I used to love camping with my cousins and friends back in the day. We would sit around the fire and tell stories. Good times!
Don't get me wrong, my wife and I have a nice 26 foot travel trailer that we take. We did our time in tents though. As we got older having some of those comforts is nice.
Well, I guess there's nothing wrong with that! But Amanda never wanted to use a tent. Even when we met in our late 20s.
Ah, okay. We camped for several years in a tent. I wouldn't go back now, but I'm happy to say I did my dues!
You are right about the digital world we are now. It gets depressing sometimes, especially for us that depend on it. And I love this part about nature.
I feel this every time I go out and watch the wind move. It is fascinating. A mystery that keeps my once stuffed up mind filled with energy and curiosity.
I keep thinking that as society progresses, we're going to see a change in how tech exists in our lives. I think it will start to blend in more with the background. I'd like to see a world where technology is almost invisible, and we are more immersed in the natural world! Kind of like old times but with modern conveniences.
We are the same on this boat of technology invincibility. It is sad seeing as humans that technology takes more time from us as we continue losing touch with physical appearance..
Getting totally immersed in nature is just right.
I do that a lot of times. I go on strolls when I can but when I can't, I luckily have a large backyard where I can just get lost in my gardens and have the breeze envelope me. It's beyond therapeutic and I enjoy the fact that in that moment, the rush of life and technology is forgotten.
I really miss living out in the country for that reason. Having a yard here in the city is just so astronomically expensive because space is at a premium. But luckily it isn't too far of a drive to get to a more relaxing environment.
Going to a place with a natural view and walking is its own pleasure, one forgets the worries of his life and enjoys the nature, and the way we see in the pictures, this place is more beautiful in reality.
That is so true, my friend. Pictures cannot capture the real beauty of nature. Something subtle is always missing.
Yeah I totally agree with you..
I couldn't agree with you more! I was on the Atari and Nintendo as well, but spent hours a day outside. I grew up at the foothill of a mountain and we were always hiking, climbing tress, building tree houses (very poorly usually), but it was the 1980's! Children today aren't allowed those kind of freedoms like we used to have.
Escaping the digital world and taking time in nature is a must. People weren't meant to work in cubicles and stare at screens all day. It's no wonder depression is such a rampant problem in the world today.
Thanks for the great post! I hope everyone remembers to take time to walk and meditate. It makes all the difference in the world.
Oh man! That must have been so awesome. I was also lucky to have grown up around the woods and a lot of water where I could hunt crawdads and even fish. I am a little sad that things are so different now because as you said, I don't think my son is going to get to do much of the stuff we got to do as kids.
I wish I had enough money where we could live out in the country but near enough to the city to work. Well, I guess if I had 'enough' money it wouldn't matter where I lived. hehe..
I think us 80s kids really had it the best.
Those were the days, they were great! We lived close enough to a river with rainbow trout and could go fishing any time I wanted. It's sad that kids today don't have the chance to experience the kind of freedoms we could. Now a days if you let your child out of your sight for more than five minutes CPS shows up!
With enough money you could live anywhere, my problem being although I have done well I've always had to around areas with enough population to keep my practice alive. As a result my son grew up mainly in Orange County. He never got to do the things I did as a kid, it was kind of sad. Us 80's kids really did have it the best!
Hopefully your kids show your working on may make you that kind of money! Would love to hear about it when you're ready, it sounds like fun!
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Congratulations @nuthman! You received a personal badge!
Thank you for encouraging peace in Ukraine and helping civilians who suffer from war.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
Congratulations @nuthman! You received a personal badge!
Thank you for encouraging peace in Ukraine and helping civilians who suffer from war.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
Your point about the importance of taking breaks from the digital world and spending time in nature is spot on.
Spending time in nature can also help to boost our mood and creativity, People who spend time in nature are happier, healthier, and more productive.
Yeah, I keep noticing that often I get in a mood and forget that I just need to take a break and go outside. It makes all the difference!