You can read all the self-help books. You can pull an oracle card, burn some sage, meditate your way into the day...

But the truth is: all of those things involve doing.

And sometimes? I don’t want to do. I just want to be.

Yes, I can put my phone down. Yes, I can step barefoot onto the dewy grass. But there’s something else — something that brings me home faster than anything else. Something that lifts the fog, lights me up, and lets my mind breathe.

Vitamin N.

Nature. The medicine I didn’t realise I was craving — until I let it in.

What Is Vitamin N? (And Why I Take It Daily)

Coined by Richard Louv — Vitamin N = Nature.

And honestly? It’s the best medicine I’ve ever found.

Even when you’re not “unwell.” Even when you’re not “burnt out.” Even when you’re just fine — Vitamin N gives you something else: A reset. A remembering. A reconnection.

It’s not a supplement. Not a to-do list item. It’s a pause — that puts you back in your body and back in your life.

I take it in daily. Because after years of being indoors, overbooked, overstimulated, and frankly over it… Nature isn’t just beautiful — it’s necessary.

Do I need to list the benefits? Beyond the obvious ones like lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, regulating mood?

There’s also this: Seeing 40 shades of green in a single forest walk. Watching light spill through a leafy canopy. Running your hand across the tops of wildflowers in a sunlit meadow.

And here’s the kicker: It’s all free. Accessible. Human. Yours.

What Nature Gave Me That Nothing Else Could

Do you know what I love about nature?

Yes, it has rhythms and seasons — but it’s also wonderfully unpredictable.

Sun, rain, and hail… all in one day. You return to your favourite blackberry-picking spot only to find it overgrown with wildflowers. You lift your hands to the sky, walking through sweetcorn fields, and for a moment — you forget.

You forget your to-do list. You forget what time it is. You forget to perform.

And you just play. You get caught up in the moment — and the utter peace that comes from simply being outside.

The more time I spend in nature, the more I see: We have seasons too.

So if you’re having a down day? Change is coming. Because we reflect what nature does — naturally.

You might get unexpected mud — good. Embrace your 5-year-old self and dive right in. You might find blocked paths — great. Clamber over tree trunks and make your own way. You might hear wild things in the bushes — perfect. Pause and meet a new friend.

Nature is joyous. It’s full of surprises. And it has never let me down.

And on a really good day? It excels.

Like the day I finished walking 212 miles coast to coast. A barn owl swooped down and landed on a cliff outcrop. It sat still. It stared at me. And it gave me a moment I’ll never forget — a moment etched into the bones of who I am now.

4 Ways to Dose Yourself With Vitamin N This Week

1. A barefoot tea moment in the garden
I dare you. No shoes. No scroll. Just hot tea and cool grass under your feet.

2. A walk with no podcast
No headphones. No noise. Just nature’s podcast — live and unscripted.

3. Watch the night sky for 3 minutes before bed
Moving clouds, a silent moon, maybe even a shooting star. Trade your final scroll for something real.

4. Work from a park bench instead of your desk
Who knows what might happen? A fresh idea. A pigeon conversation. A reminder that life is still happening out there.

There’s no excuse. Vitamin N is right there — free, wild, and waiting to lift you up.

So don’t go outside for stats or steps. Go outside to be. Or better yet — take a friend and share the love.

And now that this piece is finished? My trail shoes are going on. A short hill. A big sky. And at the top of the gallops — the London skyline, waiting.

What’s your next dose of Vitamin N going to be?