Tuning into our senses is one way to help us connect to the present moment. Lots of things can distract us from the present moment. Our thoughts and conversations in our minds are a major one. Worry, concern or stress is another. Thinking about the past or the future can be fun at times but other times these thoughts take us away from what is happening right now.
Sense of Touch
One of our five senses is touch. As a child I loved playing in the grass of my Ohio backyard home. Laying down and running my hands over the short blades of green grass. In wintertime it was picking up the soft white frozen fluffy snow and feeling the snow on my tongue. Or the feel of the sand between my toes when walking on the beach. Nature provides a plethora of things to experience with touch. Tree bark, mint leaves, dirt on a baseball field, sandy beach.
Mindfulness Activity
What nature is near your home that you can go out and touch? There are several ways to experience touch: human touch, petting an animal, the natural environment, textiles (cloth or material) to name a few.
Challenge
Spend five minutes outside feeling a natural element. Dirt, grass, a plant. Notice if you are present with the natural element. If your mind wanders, come back to the natural element.
Benefits of Touch
Did you know research has shown “touching dogs can result in lower blood pressure and heart rate than other relaxing activities such as reading”? [source] Petting an animal can also lessen fear and anxiety. Other benefits of petting animals include:
- lower heart rates
- lower triglyceride levels
- enhance the immune system
There is no research on “non-animal nature touch”. One study conducted in the Netherlands reported better moods of those who gardened for 30 minutes after a stressful task compared to the group that read inside. The gardening group had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
As you go about your day, see if you can incorporate the sense of touch. Spend a few minutes focusing your mind and attention on touch. Here are some ideas:
- Get into nature
- Feel the textiles in your home (fabrics of chairs, sofa, bedding)
- Go for a walk and pet a dog
- Feel your own skin
- Run your hand through rice or other dry food
Hope you find joy, connection, peace and present moment in whichever mindful touch activity you choose!
Photo Credit: Kelly Vohs