Could mindfulness outdoors be what you need to improve your mental health? Scientific research shows that practicing present-moment awareness in nature can reduce stress and increase well-being. So how can you take advantage of this growing trend for better mental health?
Grow flowers or food
Did you grow plants from seeds when you were a child? Or perhaps a relative grew their own vegetables or prize roses? Doubtless, seeing seeds sprout and tending them filled you with delight, and it can do so again now. Something is nurturing about caring for a tomato plant or setting sunflower seeds in the earth and watching them flourish.
You get a sense of accomplishment, and your task takes your mind off of worries. Whether you tend a vegetable plot, plant fragrant sweet peas, or take care of pond lilies, your gardening habit can provide you with better mental health.
Collect nature’s bounty
Mindfulness outdoors can include collecting natural offerings like herbs, shells, and feathers. You’ll clear your mind of concerns as you walk on the beach or through meadows, scanning the landscape for items to gather. Your mission to find objects will serve as a reason to go outdoors and walk, too, which is healthy for your body.
Relax in nature
You may not have hours to spare, but even 20 minutes spent lounging in a hammock beneath the trees or lying in the grass can help you relax and restore mental health. So spread out a blanket, snooze on a cushion, or rest against an old oak tree and breathe in the fresh air.
Listen to nature
Mindfulness outdoors can also consist of listening to the birds and wind rustling leaves in the branches. The sounds of the natural world can help you relax for better mental health. Thus, stand still among the woodland, on the beaches, or near waterfalls, and tune into what you hear.
Admire the view
Watching nature or observing a spectacular landscape can fill you with awe and help you feel great. There are plenty of places to visit where you can settle down and admire the view. Try the local park, a beauty spot, or your backyard. But if there’s no countryside near you, watch the sunrise or sunset.
Mindfulness outdoors can be a terrific antidote to stress and other issues that affect your emotional welfare. So make a point of being amid nature regularly for better mental health.