In our busy modern lives, it’s easy to feel disconnected from nature, from ourselves, and those around us. The persistent call to rewild and return to a more authentic way of living is loud and clear. And while some of us have thought at some point in life about abandoning it all to live with goats on a remote mountainside, the reality often feels distant or impractical.
And yet… for the sake of the planet, our well-being, and our health something needs to change. And it starts with reconnecting with nature.
Discovering the transformative power of rewilding isn’t reserved for remote landscapes or grand conservation projects. (Though we invite you to check out all these amazing and inspiring success stories as well!) You don’t need to uproot your life or quit your job to embark on this wild journey. Rewilding begins right where you are, in the heart of your everyday experiences.
This blog is your roadmap to becoming a rewilder—to start listening and answering to your wild soul and building a deeper connection with the natural world. Whether you live in the middle of the countryside or surrounded by skyscrapers in downtown, this is where your wild journey starts!
Rewilding is a journey with no fixed endpoint – so you can start in many different ways.
Benefits of Rewilding Your Life
Reconnecting to our wild self and our wild environment is not only doable and easier than you think, but it will also bring many benefits to your daily life.
- Exposure to natural environments can reduce stress, improve mood, boost creativity, and enhance overall well-being. It creates an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the present moment.
- By reconnecting with nature, individuals may develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and become more motivated to protect it and live more sustainably.
- Rewilding can lead to a simpler way of life, free from the distractions and complexities of modern society. Embracing a more minimalistic lifestyle can contribute to a sense of freedom and contentment.
- Many people find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in reconnecting with the natural world.
- Engaging in outdoor activities as part of rewilding, such as hiking, camping, or wilderness survival skills, can contribute to improved physical fitness. These activities often involve movement, strength-building, and overall increased physical activity.
- Rewilding is also about rediscovering ancestral or indigenous practices and reconnecting with cultural and historical roots. This may involve learning traditional skills, using ancient technologies, and embracing a lifestyle more in tune with historical human practices.
- Rewilding can involve developing skills for self-sufficiency, such as growing food, sourcing water, and building shelters. This self-reliance can foster a sense of independence and resilience.
- By adopting practices that support local biodiversity, individuals can contribute to the conservation of plant and animal species. This may include creating wildlife-friendly habitats and avoiding activities that harm ecosystems.
Feeling inspired to rewild your life? Let’s dive into some practice steps to make it happen!
6 Steps To Rewild Your Life Wherever You Are
1. Learn About Your Local Environment
Start your journey by learning more about your local environment. The more you learn about it, the more connected you’ll feel.
Whether you were born and raised in the area or you just moved here, we’re sure you can learn a lot more about your local environment.
Here are two ways to deepen your knowledge:
- Understand the history of the land you inhabit by connecting with the native people and their stories. Utilize resources like Native-land.ca to explore Indigenous territories and go check out your local library.
- Explore your local fora and fauna. Become familiar with the diverse life forms in your neighborhood. Learn the names of trees, plants, flowers, mushrooms, bugs, and birds that you share your space with. Seek by iNaturalist is a great app to have on your phone to identify plants and animals all around you. Observe your surroundings throughout the seasons; how the colours change, shapes shift, and processes evolve and the whole landscape changes with them.
2. Build Community
Despite our crowded world, many of us feel increasingly isolated. Break this cycle by engaging with your neighbors or even organising small get-togethers or street parties. Neighbors that know each other can make the neighborhood feel more welcoming and safer and it can become quite useful when going on vacation whether it’s for watering plants or taking care of a pet.
You can also grow your community outside of your neighborhood. Volunteer in your city, share your skills and contribute to local initiatives. Start by picking an area of interest where they need help (your kids’ school, a nature park, or an animal shelter for example).
Some wise words that are central to our global rewilding movement are: think global, act local. Rewilding is a grassroots movement that has risen from positive collective action at local levels that accumulates to powerful impacts at regional, international, and global scales. In other words, it starts with you, us, together!
Check out rewilding organisations active in your area. You can start by browsing this map.
3. Do Some Wild Gardening
Gardening is a great way to connect with nature and get out of our busy minds and into our bodies.
As with many modern practices, we’ve lost touch with the more natural way of gardening. Here are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration:
- Plant native and avoid invasive species
Native plants are naturally made for the local environment, they are more resilient, better adapted, and have a great symbolic relationship with the local fauna and flora. Invasive species on the other hand have been introduced and are often harmful to the environment. Creating a garden with native plants not only supports local ecosystems but also attracts wildlife, transforming your space into a sanctuary. - Avoid over-mowing your lawn
Let the wildflowers grow wild and provide a feast for pollinators. What happens if you just leave it? Learn more about the No Mow May campaign here. - Start your own compost
Reduce your waste by transforming them into healthy compost. This can be done in a small apartment or a big backyard! Learn more about composting here.
4. Eat More Plant-Based Meals
Animal agriculture not only produces a lot of emissions but is also the leading cause of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.
Eating sustainable plant-based food will not only positively impact your health but also the planet! Learn more with re:wild your fridge.
Make sure to always have fresh vegetables and fruits by enrolling in a subscription for a local organic box. This is a great way to support local farmers and it also guarantees access to high-quality produce.
5. Embrace Outdoor Hobbies
Shift your focus from indoor routines to outdoor adventures. Instead of hitting the gym, opt for a hike or a run outside. Dedicate time to meditate in a park or give forest bathing a try. Decide to walk instead of driving whenever possible. Start experiencing the physical and mental benefits of outdoor activities.
6. Buy Less Stuff
We live in a society where we are told that we are consumers before human beings. (For more on this, check out Jon Alexander’s book: Citizens) It’s time to change the narrative by prioritizing experiences over possessions.
- Resist the temptation to shop unnecessarily. Try taking a walk with your friends in the nearby woods instead of going shopping. Unsubscribe from all the junk mail and advertising you get all the time (and save trees while doing so!)
- Take the habit of repairing before buying. A hole in a pair of jeans doesn’t justify throwing it away. Grab the opportunity to make something cool out of old or worn out items, like this.
- Need something? First, make sure you don’t have it already at home, then check if you can borrow it from someone or buy it second-hand. When purchasing new, choose products from environmentally conscious and ethical companies.
Ready to Rewild your Life? Take Action!
Feeling inspired? Choose one action from these steps and share your rewilding experiences with us. Tag @globalrewildingalliance and let’s collectively embrace the transformative journey of rewilding!
For more information on Rewild Your Life visit our partners at Re:wild.org