It’s an overused comment that you come across as you scroll through a Tik Tok comment section, poking fun at the video that might have been overreaching or out of touch. “Touch Grass,” an anonymous user writes, an insult at how internet culture sometimes allows people to get too comfortable oversharing on the internet. It’s a commonly used joke, but when the video is over, there is a lingering truth to the statement. We can laugh, but when it comes down to it, when was the last time we set our phones down and just existed outside?
It is so simple that it seems silly. A suggestion as straightforward as “go on a walk,” or “step outside for a minute” can sometimes seem like a chore, as the simplicity of it diminishes the action to almost seeming pointless. But when you take time and get yourself out of the indoors, you can feel how refreshing it is to take a break from devices or your daily struggles. The constant thoughts in your head start to stop spinning, your phone stops feeling so important, and you become more aware of your surroundings, noticing things you might have not seen before. Breathing in the fresh air feels like the daily stressors of your life are being lifted from your shoulders, and everything becomes a little less heavy.
Recently, my English class has been learning and reading literature from the Transcendentalist movement that took over the New England region in the 19th century, and I have learned new ideas concerning the human interaction or lack thereof with the natural elements. Even back then, a time that had no coexistence of humans with the internet and other technologies, there were individuals who identified that people were too stuck in pursuing lifestyles that adhered to social expectations, and lacked a sense of connection with nature.
Writers like Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau stressed how important it is to take a break, step outside, and forget about the struggles of one’s daily life, and instead take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the earth. Reading literature that carries these sentiments has been incredibly influential in the way that I view my interactions with the earth.
Taking a break from your screen and getting outside isn’t a quick magic fix, but it helps you feel more grounded. Just spending a few minutes outside, whether you’re at the beach admiring the sunset, or going for a walk, there are multiple ways to interact and be in nature. There isn’t a right way to be in touch with nature: it’s about finding what works for you, and giving yourself the time to connect with something other than technology.
