12 May, 2021
Nature is beneficial for our mental health in so many ways. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be hard to find time to spend outside. However, research has shown that being exposed to nature helps us feel less stressed, more relaxed, and happier! Research from The Mental Health Foundation showed that spending time outdoors has been one of the key factors that have helped many people to cope with the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. Around 45% of people in the UK said that visiting green spaces helped them to cope. There are many ways to explore and connect with nature, but in order to have a quality connection with nature, you should embrace your natural surroundings. Involving all of your senses can help with your connection, you could; smell the flowers, feel the trees, or listen to the birds. Nature really is all around us and although in many different ways depending on where you live. Here are some tips on how you can incorporate nature into your daily routine for a healthier mind! Take notice of your surroundings How many times do you walk down the street or drive to work and fail to notice the many birds, trees, or insects around you? To reconnect with nature, you can take time out to stop and observe your surroundings. Try to take note of the different sounds around you or pick up a leaf from the ground and turn it over in between your fingers to see its intricate patterns, you could look for tiny insects along the ground. Not only will this help you to connect with the space around you but it will help provide some much-needed mindfulness if only for a few minutes. Find green spaces Although we don't all live right next to trails and parks, they are available to everyone. Why not schedule some time in your diary to explore your nearest park, or you could try looking a bit further afield for a green space you have never visited before. Green spaces are beneficial because they offer opportunities for recreation and provide a space to escape from urban environments. Interact with wildlife The more you look, the more you see. Take some time out to find out the different types of wildlife in your local area. You could set up a bird feeder and watch the various types of birds that visit your garden. The same goes for the types of insects, trees, and animals that you share your green space with. There has been an increase in the use of wildlife cameras during the lockdown. Many people are excited to see what wildlife visits their garden during the night. You could also set up a sandbox with different food items on it. When you wake up in the morning, you may see different footprints from any animals that might have stopped by. Explore being creative in nature There are so many ways to be creative with nature, you could create a picture from various items you collect on walks such as stones, twigs, or leaves. You can draw or paint a picture or take a camera and take pictures of your surroundings. Get green-fingers Even if you don't have a big outdoor space, you should try to find some space to grow your own plants or flowers or even grow your own food. What better way to connect with nature than to grow something yourself. The feeling of pride when you grow something from a seed and it reaches full maturity can be very rewarding. Even if you don't have access to land, there are now many small indoor plants that grow on windowsills so even the most urban person could get their green thumb on!