How can I journal about why I feel more myself in nature vs. human-made spaces without judging one as “better”?

Try a curious, non-judgmental scan. 1) Sensory check-in: List what your body notices in each space (sounds, light, pace, air). 2) Emotions: Name top 3 feelings each place evokes and rate intensity 1–10. 3) Energy: Do you feel restored, drained, focused, scattered? When does that shift? 4) Associations: Note memories these places trigger—comforting or stressful. 5) Needs/values: Which values feel supported (autonomy, creativity, belonging, calm, achievement)? 6) Stoic lens: Identify what you can control (when/where you spend time, how you prepare) versus what you can’t (weather, crowds). Use Stoic to capture a few lines after time in each environment and compare notes over a week—curiosity over judgment.

What’s a simple journaling structure to connect this preference to my values and daily choices?

Use a short template: 1) Setting + feeling: “In [park/office/café], I feel [emotion].” 2) Why: “Because [sensory/pace/people/greenery].” 3) Value link: “This supports my value of [calm/learning/connection/impact].” 4) Tradeoff: “The cost is [commute/noise/isolation].” 5) Control move: “One small choice I control this week is [schedule a nature walk, choose a quieter workspace, add plants/light].” 6) Review: End day with “Did today’s setting help me live my values?” In the Stoic app, keep these lines brief so it’s easy to repeat and notice patterns over time.

I feel torn—I love wild places and I also thrive in cities. How do I reconcile this in my journaling and daily planning?

Frame it as both/and. 1) Name the superpowers: “Nature gives me X; city gives me Y.” 2) Identify dose: How much of each restores you (minutes, hours, days)? 3) Design micro-doses: Nature in city (morning light, trees, a quiet block); city in nature (podcast, café vibes, a task list). 4) Time-box experiments: This week, pair a task with the setting that best supports it (deep work → quieter/green; social/brainstorm → vibrant). 5) Reflect: “What worked, what didn’t, what will I repeat?” 6) Stoic check: Accept what’s fixed today; choose the best available setting for your intention. Use Stoic to log these experiments so you can refine your mix rather than forcing a single identity.

Journaling Idea - On Nature.

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Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Oct 5, 2025

Journal in Stoic

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Natalia Łobodzińska

Head of Content at stoic.

Natalia oversees all content inside the Stoic app — from guided journals to daily prompts. She works closely with therapists and writers to make sure every word helps users reflect and grow. She also manages translations to keep the experience thoughtful and consistent across languages.

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