As per Sanatan Dharma, the human life is divided into 4 clearly defined stages. Balyashram, Gruhastashram, Vaanprasthaashram and Sanyasashram.

Balyashram is the stage of life where the children go to school and also learn a trade suitable for their specific mind set/body strength. Traditionally formal studies began only after the age of 6+yrs (post here). Today, under the guise of creches and play groups, we force our babies and toddlers to go to school from the age of 2yrs. Earlier the schools were the Gurukul located inside forests. The teachers were called Gurus as they gave the children wisdom in addition to bookish knowledge and practical skills. The boarding school pattern was followed and the children would live in the Ashram in the natural surroundings for about 7yrs. Living in the forests in sync with the environment these children would expand their minds and deeply imbibe the teachings of the Gurus. The Sanskars of being one with nature/ Prakruti were formed and nourished in the child’s mind in these formative years.

The teenagers would then return to their homes after completing their education. They would start as apprentices in their chosen professions. And in a few years, their parents would arrange their marriages with suitable spouses after checking the horoscopes, status in the society etc. The marriage event would mark their entry into the next stage ie the Gruhastashram. (In case someone wanted to take Sanyas directly, then instead of getting married, he/she would go to the Ashram of the chosen Guru for doing sadhana.) These young householders would now work in the villages/ towns, earn money, raise their own children etc and achieve their material goals. The Gruhast would shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining the society. The other three stages, Bala, Vanaprasth and Sanyasi depended on the Gruhast for support, thus the Gruhast couple was expected to work and also perform their daily karma as per the Vedpurva.

Next, with the completion of about half the average life span, the householder couple would exit from Gruhastashram and take on Vanprasthashram, ie retired life. The family business and other concerns would be handed over to their now grown up children. And the retired parents would eventually leave their village/town and go to the forest to again live in an ashram. Now onwards they would again live the simple life in close connect with nature. Their Guru would prescribe Upasana for them and they would do Shravan and Manan of the Vedantic concepts for spiritual growth. These retired parents would still be available to their now Gruhast children in case they needed their advice. But now their personal focus would be on reducing their attachment to the children, profession, worldly concerns etc and focus solely on the Vedant.

Then finally the last stage would be the Sanyasashram. Here the elderly husband and wife would separate from each other too, ie mentally reduce their attachment to each other. They would start Nididhyasanam, ie deeply absorbing the Vedant and striving for Moksh. This stage of life too was to be lived in the forest, in continuous contemplation of the Eternal in the lap of nature.

So, as per our Sanatan way of life we were expected to spend 3 stages of our lives in the forests and only 1 stage in the villages/towns. Our ancient lifestyle was deeply connected to nature. Today we live out 100% of our lives in the cities and have zero connect with nature and natural surroundings. And this modern lifestyle is the root cause of all the problems we face on the individual/ society levels in the present times. But it is equally true that now it is not possible to live life as per these Dharmic standards.

But there is one thing which you can do if you want to. Ensure that you spend time in natural surroundings as much as possible. eg Weekend tours to a local hill station or a day tour by the sea /river or at least a routine walk in a local park, where there is some natural environment. And if you can afford it, spend your vacation time once/ twice a year in the forest or at the sea side. Modern pastimes suited to natural areas like birdwatching, photography, trekking, camping, etc should be pursued as much as possible. (Post Covid, there is a trend where people book homestays in the hills and stay there for weeks at a stretch and work while living in the mountains.)

Our Dharma gives very high importance to nature, Prakruti. Ultimately it is Prakruti who leads the way to the Eternal. And the only way to attain the Self is to spend time in Her presence, ie in nature.