Nature and Well-being

Now more than ever, it is important to look after our mental and physical well-being. With more of us working from home, we are waking up and moving a few feet to our ‘new office’ and spending the day in front of a computer screen. For some of us to then turn around after work and spend the night in front of the television. 

For obvious reasons, this can harm our mental and physical well-being. Despite the rainy weather, we should still be spending time in our green spaces and nature, within government guidelines. 

Research has shown that spending time in green spaces and nature has a positive effect, from improving our mental health to enhancing creativity. Even just spending 20 minutes a day outside can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve our mood and boost feelings of happiness and well-being. What have you got to lose?

Here are five tips to support your mental health with nature this winter:

Walking. Grab your coat, hat and wellies and go on a local walk! A good walk can do wonders for your mental and physical well-being. Walking has been proven to improve your mood, sleep quality and physical fitness. It will also help reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Get creative with nature. Excessive screen time can affect our attention span and our ability to form new ideas. Flexing our creative muscles has been proven to help people manage their mental well-being. That’s why it’s important to get outside and be inspired by nature. Creativity isn’t just about artistic flair it also includes problem-solving, the way you perform tasks, and how you approach challenges. 

Bring nature inside. Despite our best intentions, sometimes we just don’t want to go outside. So why not bring some nature inside with you? You can bring greenery into your room by putting up some house plants, or bring the scent of the outdoors in, with scented candles or diffusing oils.

Support the wildlife. Being around animals and wildlife can also be beneficial for overall well-being, now is a great time of year to welcome wildlife into your garden and support them through the winter weather ahead! You could create a small shelter in the corner of your garden for wildlife to keep warm and safe, leave out freshwater or provide food for birds. 

Lawn Maintenance. Your garden will begin to rest in December, but there are a few jobs you can do to ensure a lush lawn once spring arrives. You could clear away lawn furniture, ensure leaves are picked up, add mulch to trees and shrubs, clean gardening tools or repair the edges of your lawn. All of which will you give you a sense of achievement, knowing that your efforts will be rewarded come spring. 

During these uncertain times, we may be experiencing feelings of stress and anxiety more frequently than previously. Amidst the cold weather, it’s important to make time for ourselves in outdoor spaces, to be able to benefit from the nature around us. It doesn’t matter if you can only make a little time, anytime in nature can be beneficial to both our physical and mental well-being. 

For more support, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/thriving-with-nature/guide or https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/nature-and-mental-health/ideas-to-try-in-nature/

Sources:

Mind

Science Direct

Walking for Health

Digital Therapies