A bright new year is here! I hope you all had enjoyable New Year’s Eves. We had a little party at our place which was so nice. Very much valuing time with friends after spending so much time apart in 2021. But anywho, that’s not what we’re talking about today. Today I want to wax lyrical on keeping a nature journal and why it’s such a marvelous idea.
Way back in 2011, I started a nature journal for school. I absolutely fell in love with the practice, and kept it up on and off into my first few years at university. It was equal parts creative and meditative which brought me joy, peace and a greater appreciation for the beauty around me. That’s something I want to recapture this year, so I’m starting a nature journal for 2022.
What is a nature journal?
A nature journal is where you record your observations of nature. The practice goes back to the time of explorers, such as Joseph Banks, who compiled detailed notes of the different flora and fauna they came across as they explored new lands. These notes proved invaluable for discovering and understanding new species around the world.
Your nature journal is a place to catalog the natural world around you too. Most often this is with drawings of things you see, such as the mushroom study above, or a bird or animal you’ve seen. The drawings can range from very rough line drawings through to detailed anatomical studies. It all depends on what you want to do and how much detail you want to get into. You can also write notes about the weather or what you’re seeing or hearing. It’s also a great place to include poetry (your own or someone else’s) or quotes that inspire you.
So why is a nature journal so marvelous?
We know that spending time in nature is good for us. We also know that being present in the moment is wonderful for our mental health and can even reduce inflammation in the body. Nature journalling combines both those things into a reflective and creative practice that gets you out absorbing nature on a regular basis. It’s also a great way to reduce your screen time.
Taking time to step into your garden or a local park is great for your mental health. But you can even nature journal with your pot plant, a vase of flowers or a pet. Those things are nature too! The act of slowing down and observing what’s in front of you is such a wonderful boost, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed. It’s hard to focus on your stressors when you’re trying to capture a moving butterfly or match the shade of an unfurling tulip.
I loved keeping my nature journal all those years ago. Looking back on the drawings, poems and notes is a beautiful way to remember the past. It’s a beautiful reflection of different places I lived or visited. A nature journal not only helps you find some peace and appreciation now, it can also become a delightful collection of memories down the road.
How to start your own
First, grab yourself a dedicated journal. I would suggest an notebook with unlined paper, preferably art paper which is a little thicker. This will better hold your drawings and stop them ‘leaking’ through to the next page. This year I’ve chosen one from my favourite stationary shop, Papier, but you can get them anywhere.
Next, chose your medium. Do you want to use pencils, pens, paint? There are so many options out there, and you can use more than one kind in your journal so don’t feel like you have to lock yourself in. Personally, I like to take a lead pencil with a rubber and a black fineliner pen out with me. They’re easy to pack, and you can do quick drawings with them. I often start with pencil, then go over with the black pen. Later, I can fill in the drawing with coloured pencil, if I haven’t been able to take my collection out with me.
When you go out, find somewhere to sit and take time to observe what’s going on. You could note down the weather or what sounds you can hear. See what catches your eye and start drawing. There’s a good little article here if you’d like more detailed instructions.
Before you tell me you can’t draw, let me just say: who cares? The nature journal is a place for you to explore and note the world around you for your own enjoyment. Even if you feel lost with a pencil at first, as you practice you will find your ability to observe and draw improves. You’ll be learning a new skill and that’s a great benefit all by itself.
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