Connect with Nature
Connecting with nature can have a really positive effect on our mental health. Just getting outside for 15 minutes a day provides you with enough Vitamin D to raise serotonin levels in the brain. Enough to make a difference but what can we do in these challenging times?
For me having connections to the outside is vital. It is my way of resetting myself, of enabling myself to reflect, question and process all the things that life has a habit of throwing at me. As I walk I can literally feel myself ease, my shoulders drop, my breathing gets deeper and I am able to begin putting my problems in to perspective.
Fresh air, vitamin D, looking, and I mean REALLY looking at things makes me re-connect. It is so easy to fester on our sofa's in front of the TV - don't get me wrong I sure as hell do this too - but knowing that every single day I am making a conscious effort to get outside for at least 15 minutes is my lifeline.
I really do understand that for many of us who suffer with mental health that getting outside can be particularly challenging. Maybe try to start with the basics, try to get outside every day for 15 minutes and build up your confidence slowly. Whenever I have a blip I used this to get myself back on track. It was slow, sometimes painful but I stuck at it. For now I am focusing on m making my daily walk meaningful, I take my time, really look at what's around me and feel a connection with nature. I see the flowers, the trees coming into leaf, the birds and wildlife. Small steps, but understanding the value of getting outside, within the regulations, every day is vital for my mental health.
ARTICLES
Connecting with nature offers a new approach to mental health care
'A report published today (9 February 2016) shows that taking part in nature-based activities helps people who are suffering from mental ill-health and can contribute to a reduction in levels of anxiety, stress, and depression.'
Read Article HERE
Nature and mental health
'Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing. For example, doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects.'
Read Article HERE
Nature as Therapy: Why Getting Outdoors is Good for Your Mental Health
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees"
Read Article HERE
Nature for Wellbeing
'We believe that everyone deserves to live in a healthy, wildlife-rich natural world and experience the joy of wildlife every day: for the wellbeing of people and wildlife.'
Read Article HERE