Ali gives us some ideas to encourage us to spend more time outside to improve our emotional wellbeing.
There is plenty of evidence that tells us, the more time we spend outside, just being with nature is good for our emotional wellbeing. Here are some ideas to encourage you to spend time outdoors or sometimes bring nature indoors with you.
- Take a walk every day, even if it's round the garden or around the block - find a leaf, feather, twig or pine cone and bring it home (please don't uproot wild flowers though).
- Make something with what you find - twigs in a jam jar can look great. Create something without judgement.
- While you are out, listen to the birds, the breeze in the trees. Notice what is going on around you.
- If you can't get outside, find a recording of some nature sounds, bird song or running water and take some time to relax and listen. Imagine the place you might be to hear these sounds. Find some pictures of nature and use these to create a piece of art just for you.
- In a pot or in the garden, plant some herbs; mint, thyme, parsley or chives maybe. Care for these plants, feed and water them and you can reap the rewards. Mint tea is lovely and even better when you have grown it yourself. House plants can have a great impact on your mental wellbeing and there are plants for all types of homes so get researching!
