updated for lockdown!
Study after study shows that time spent outdoors is not only beneficial for our physical health but is also great for our Mental Health – a double win!
The interesting thing about most of this research is that it’s not big dramatic challenges like scaling a mountain or running a marathon that work best – its simple everyday activities that are accessible to nearly everyone.
We try and run all of our sessions outdoors for a reason – people engage more and always report a better experience – so I thought I’d write up a top 5 things you can do to give yourself a boost…
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Go for a walk….Every Day
Just head out whatever. This is important for lots of reasons – exercise, a change of scene, you’re proving to yourself that you can. You’re making time for yourself – starting to prioritise yourself and your wellbeing is fundamental to making yourself resilient and healthy.
Contrary to popular belief it isn’t the first step that’s the toughest – it’s the keeping going. But when you do the benefits actually compound – so lots of little walks are much better for you than one long walk. And yes – in the UK it might rain – a cheap umbrella will keep you dry – and you’ll feel like a hero for going anyway.
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Notice something new.
I spend a huge amount of time outdoors – and yet there is always something new to notice. And each 
time I notice a ‘new to me’ thing I feel a little more connected to my environment – I also feel a sense of achievement. And as I connect to the external world a bit more I’m able to disconnect from some of the internal ‘noise’ a bit more too. These tiny lichens are a great example – they’re present all year round (there are 1700 species in the UK) and yet most people never notice them!
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Sit & Listen
You don’t have to physically push yourself – and anywhere outside that is mostly a natural environment works – so a park a local field, a wood – but once you’ve found a quiet spot to sit spend some time listening to the world outside – really listen, concentrate, what can you hear? There’s usually much more than people think. Bird song, the differences in it, the wind in trees, the sounds of moving water – the sound of rain on that umbrella. Silence – possibly the most important sound of all – really focus on it, enjoy it, let it work its magic on you. Personally I also like to listen out for the occasional sounds of man – a passing car, a distant plane, the jogger that ran past – and acknowledge how transient they are, how nature and the real world continues long after they’re past.
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Beginnings and Endings.
For everybody it often feels like the tough times won’t end – the covid pandemic and lockdown has quite
possibly intensified that for many – but its not true. One of the best ways I know to appreciate this is to make the odd (I like my bed!) effort to see the start and end of the day – fortunately this time of year makes that relatively comfortable! – Photographers will always tell you that the best light is found around sunrise and sunset – the low sun makes the world seem magical – I find it the perfect time to give thanks for what’s to come and to accept what’s been.
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Walk and Talk
We’re allowed to walk with one person not from our household in the (late 2020) lockdown – but if you’ve a large family then this works just as well with one of them. Set some time aside to really talk and connect with one person a day – it can even be a stranger. Knowing you’ve each put that time aside – much like our first step, adds a real value – conveys a real worth. I find in a therapeutic setting people often engage more outdoors – often find it easier to talk about how they’re feeling – they often listen better as well. Try it.
Summary
We’ll each find our own slightly unique twist – I’ve friends who collect leaves to identify at home, I know people who collect pebbles to make art – but each of them say that as well as the physical exercise they find time spent in nature recharges them mentally – maybe its time you gave it a go?
