Natural Living is a new skill introduced in The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature. This guide will show you how to build the Natural Living skill, what gameplay benefits it unlocks, and how it helps Sims survive without needing traditional shelter, food, or amenities. Whether your Sim is exploring Innisgreen or living off-grid, mastering Natural Living makes them more self-sufficient and adaptable.
1. Benefits of Natural Living Skill
The Natural Living Skill gives Sims the ability to satisfy Needs like Hunger, Hygiene, and Energy while outdoors or off the grid. These benefits include:
- Sleeping anywhere on the ground to restore Energy.
- Eating food from the wild — including harvestables, raw fish, and frogs.
- Bathing in wild water or using public restrooms to maintain Hygiene.
- Foraging to find ingredients, collectibles, or edible items.
- Summoning a Privy Bush to fulfill Bladder needs (from Level 2).
These abilities are useful not only in Innisgreen, but also in worlds like Selvadorada (Jungle Adventure) or Granite Falls (Outdoor Retreat).
Sims far away from base camp in the jungle can use Natural Living to satisfy any Needs.
2. How to Build Natural Living Skill
Sims increase the Natural Living Skill by performing natural survival actions or by studying the skill. Activities include:
- Sleeping on the ground, indoors or outdoors.
- Bathing in wild water — oceans, lakes, rivers, or ponds.
- Sponge bathing in public restrooms or at the Mossveil Fairy Hub.
- Using the Privy Bush (summonable from Level 2).
- Foraging on grass, sand, or dirt terrain.
- Talking to Nature (Level 5+).
- Meditating in Nature (Level 7+).
- Researching online or reading skill books Vol 1–3.
3. How to Use the Natural Living Skill
The Natural Living Skill lets Sims survive anywhere by turning the outdoors into a home. Each action helps satisfy Needs and becomes more effective as the skill levels up.
Sleeping on the Ground
From Level 1, Sims can select Sleep Here on any grass, dirt, or sand surface. They can sleep in any season and weather, including rain or snow (Seasons). As their skill improves:
- They stop becoming Uncomfortable.
- Sleep fills Energy faster.
- They gain positive Moodlets for sleeping outdoors.
- At high levels, sleep may restore Balance.
Although it looks uncomfortable, Sims will eventually adapt to sleeping on the floor.
Bathing in Wild Water
To restore Hygiene, Sims can wade into swimmable water and select Bathe in Water. Only water of suitable depth allows the interaction. At higher levels:
- Bathing is faster and grants Fun.
- Cold weather has no effect (Seasons only).
Bathing is available in swimmable water – but only at the right depth.
Sponge Bathing in Public Restrooms
Sims can use public bathroom blocks or the Mossveil Fairy Hub to Sponge Bathe. This satisfies Hygiene when no body of water is nearby.
- Low-level Sims may feel Uncomfortable.
- High-level Sims bathe faster and gain positive Moodlets.
If a shower, bath, or water isn’t available for washing, use a public restroom.
Using the Privy Bush
At Level 2, Sims unlock Summon Privy Bush, letting them conjure a portable toilet on grass, sand, or dirt. This interaction is disabled for Sims without a Bladder Need, such as Fairies or Vampires.
- Privy Bushes stop affecting Hygiene at higher levels.
No bathroom or Privy Bush available? Why not summon one right to your Sim!
Foraging
Using Forage Here, Sims can dig up items outdoors. As they level up, more options unlock:
- Level 2: Forage for Food.
- Level 3: Forage for Plants.
- Level 5: Forage for Collectibles.
- Level 2 Apothecary: Forage for Apothecary Ingredients.
Foraging is only possible on natural terrain. Solid surfaces like wood, cement, or stone cannot be used.
As your Sim becomes more experienced, they can get more specific with what to look for when Foraging.
Eating from the Wild
Natural Living lets Sims eat items gathered outdoors:
- Harvestables: fruit, herbs, mushrooms, vegetables
- Raw fish: unlocked at Level 2
- Frogs: unlocked at Level 5
Higher skill levels increase Hunger satisfaction and prevent Uncomfortable Moodlets.
Higher level Natural Living Sims are more comfortable and satisfied from eating food found in the wild.
Talking to Nature
At Level 5, Sims unlock Talk to Nature on plants to fulfill Social. At Level 7, the interaction becomes more effective, ideal for Loner Sims or those living off-grid.
Talking to plants staves off loneliness.
Meditating in Nature
From Level 7, Sims can select Meditate in Nature on outdoor terrain. At Level 9, it restores Fun and Balance.
Sims who meditate may find themselves feeling more Balanced.
4. All Level Unlocks for Natural Living Skill
Level 1
- Sleep on ground indoors/outdoors.
- Eat harvestables.
- Bathe in water or sponge bathe.
- Forage.
Level 2
- Summon Privy Bush (no Fairies/Vampires).
- Eat raw fish.
- Forage for Food.
Sims with some Natural Living experience can catch fish and then eat it raw.
Level 3
- Forage for Plants.
- Improved Hygiene when sleeping outside.
Level 4
- Less Hygiene loss from Privy Bush.
- Bathing gains some Fun.
- Improved naps on benches.
Low level Sims struggle with activities like sleeping and bathing.
Level 5
- Eat frogs.
- Forage for Collectibles.
- Talk to Nature unlocked.
- Faster Hygiene fulfillment from bathing.
Level 6
- No adverse effects from heat/cold (Seasons only).
- Sleep and bathe outdoors in any weather.
- Boost Balance while sleeping.
- Less chance of Raw Rumble from fish.
Level 7
- Privy Bush no longer affects Hygiene.
- Fun from harvestables.
- Meditate in Nature unlocked.
Sims more comfortable with nature can eventually learn to meditate with it.
Level 8
- Greater Hunger restoration from wild food.
Level 9
- Eat frogs restores more Hunger.
- Talk to Nature restores more Social.
- Meditate in Nature improves Fun and Balance.
Level 10
- Faster sponge/water bathing.
- Sleeping outside boosts Balance.
- Highest Hunger gain from harvestables.
- Less likely to get Fear of the Dark or Fear of Drowning.
Sims at higher levels gain positive rather than negative moodlets from Natural Living activities.
5. Extra Tips for Natural Living in The Sims 4
Here are some hidden benefits and expert tips to get the most from the Natural Living Skill:
- Low-level Sims may dig up Stink Bugs while Foraging.
- High Natural Living plus the Good Luck trait increases rare item chances.
- Foraging in Innisgreen may uncover Everdew Plant Seeds: Aura Blossom, Lightning Root, and Moody Shrub.
- Foraging in Everdew can produce Fairy Dust.
- Form a group and use Forage Here Together via Actions > Form Group.
- Sims gain Natural Living faster when Inspired.
Sims in an Inspired Mood gain Natural Living faster.
