These top tips are all around connecting with nature, which was also one of the themes chosen for Mental Health Awareness week in May 2021.
Millions of people used nature as a way of coping during the pandemic, with an outside walk being one of the top ways of surviving a really difficult time.
45% of us found that being in a green space had proved crucial to maintaining a good level of mental health. It has been found that nature has a unique way of helping us in stressful times, increasing our empathy and creativity, reducing feelings of social isolation and preventing distress.
In these articles, we aim to motivate and inspire with our tips and ideas. We want you to think about your mental health and wellbeing and make it a priority, ensuring that you are always finding new ways to improve how you feel through increased knowledge and awareness.
Some activities we suggest may appeal to you more than others, we simply ask that you have a go with an open mind, as sometimes you might be surprised at the health benefits that you feel.
Top tips to connect with nature and improve your mental wellbeing
Here are some top tips to get you started connecting with nature. These can be adapted into the workplace as well as in your personal life – you may just need to give a little thought and creativity as to how you do this.
Get outside
It may sound obvious but sometimes we put the things that will help us most to the bottom of our to-do list, seeing them as a luxury for when everything else is completed. Setting time aside often to go to natural places like a park or garden, or to be by a river or beach, can lift your mood and reduce the risk of developing a mental health problem. Next lunchtime, go for a walk.
Explore nature using your senses
Once you are at your chosen place look and listen carefully to everything around you, from leaves crunching underfoot, to birds chirping to each other and flowers swaying in the breeze. Notice colours and smells, sounds in the distance and anything else that draws your attention. Through this you will find worries and problems just drift away, allowing a sense of hope, and gratitude for everything around you.
Notice nature everywhere
You may begin to find ways of taking your mind to a calm space simply by searching for glimpses of nature and beauty whilst travelling to work by car or train, or through the kitchen window while washing the dishes. Noticing some birds balancing on a fence and seeing the sunlight light up beautiful colours on their feathers, or seeing fluffy clouds chasing across the sky, can distract you and boost your wellbeing. Look outside the office window or on the way to work.
Make your own space for nature
If you find it difficult to engage with nature due to where you live, a hectic schedule or other health problems, you could make space in your home or garden to grow and nurture plants, flowers or vegetables. Having a bird feeder would let you watch nature up close, enjoying the sights and sounds that it brings. If none of these things are possible, watching programmes about the natural world can be a good way to make a connection with the earth’s many gifts. Ask your manager if you can do something to connect with nature at work. Bird feeders on office windows, plants in the office. Is there somewhere outside you can convert?
Look after nature
Knowing how our actions can impact nature, and doing something to protect it, can be extremely rewarding and make you feel positive and happy. Anything from choosing to walk to the local shop rather than drive counts as helping. You may put more effort into recycling workplace items or join in with an initiative to clean up the community you work in. Both are ways of making a big difference.
We hope this gives you some inspiration to have a go. The opportunities are endless and can even include painting a picture of a landscape, writing a piece describing a sunset or taking a photograph of some flowers you have grown.