Sun on the skin, feet on the ground: enjoying nature Luka McCabe’s way

Luka McCabe is a registered nurse, midwife, nutrition expert and mum to three children. Her business and passion project, Boob to Food, helps first-time mums navigate early motherhood, especially with regard to weaning their babies. We asked Luka about her relationship with nature:

What’s your favourite thing to do in nature?

Definitely to go camping in our caravan! When you are camping you can't help but be completely immersed in nature, spending all your time outside, barefoot, at the beach or in the bush. You become so much more aware of the moon, the tides, the wind, the seasons, the stars and you really fall into a more natural rhythm of life: going to sleep early at sundown and waking with the sun.

 Describe your connection to nature: what positives does it bring to your life? 

Nature is instantly calming, grounding and, at the risk of a pun, it just feels 'natural'! Being in nature helps me feel more connected to the planet, and brings a feeling of deep relaxation.  For an instant mood boost, you can’t get better than the feeling of the sun on your skin.

What are your fondest memories of spending time in nature?

They’d have to be travelling Australia in our caravan with my young family. Waking up on the beach or in the bush, falling asleep to the sound of the waves, experiencing the power and natural beauty of waterfalls and gorges when you think you're in the middle of nowhere. It was always so special for us to drive to places that seemed so 'untouched.' We felt like we were the first to experience the beauty Australia has to offer.  

Many of us are time-poor, and might not get out into nature as much as we’d like. Any suggestions for a quick nature-based pick-me up? Something sensory, experiential…? 

I think if you can try and 'ground yourself' and get some sunshine on your skin daily, it can help you feel more connected to nature and the earth. So take off your shoes and walk barefoot on the grass, sand—even mud—and really be mindful of moving your toes around the sensations of the earth on your feet. If you can, try and expose large parts of your body to the sun for at least 10-20 minutes a day. We need large body parts exposed in order to absorb and reap the benefits of the sun’s Vitamin D. It’s so conducive to our physical and mental health!