Spend Time In Nature.

There are lots of studies which highlight how nature can play a role in supporting and protecting our mental health. Nature can generate several positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, creativity and can help with concentration.

In actual fact, research shows that people who are better connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report feeling that their lives are worthwhile. Being connected to nature is also associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety.

For many of us though, being ‘connected to nature’ may not be as easy as it sounds. The good news is that you don’t have to be rambling over hills or climbing a mountain to feel the benefits. There are lots of simple ways to bring nature into your everyday life.

Here are some top tips on how you can build on your “connectedness” with nature:

1. Find nature wherever you are – Nature is all around us. It might be a garden, a local park, a nearby beach or open countryside. Even in cities where nature is harder to find, there’s community gardens or planted courtyards to discover and explore. Always Look out for the unexpected! Be a weather-watcher or listen to birdsong outside your window. Try to notice nature wherever you are, in whatever way you find meaningful.
2. Try gardening or grow food – Perhaps the easiest way of doing this is to start small, you could plant herbs in a plant box or pot or try growing a tomato plant on a window sill. You could apply to share an allotment or look out for adverts about community gardens and social farms where volunteers are always welcome. You can give your time and get back some time with nature.
3. Bring nature indoors – Having flowers or potted plants in your home is a great way of bringing nature indoors. Use them to create a comfortable place to sit, for example near a window where you can look at a view of trees or the sky. Another good way of bringing nature into your day to day is by listening to nature sounds or watching nature programmes or videos.
4. Do activities outdoors – Take a walk in a green space, have a picnic in a local park, or sit in a garden if you have one. This might be something you could enjoy doing with other people. You could also join a walking group or run or jog through a local park.
5. Take notice of nature – keep a record of what you notice in nature by taking photos or find things you can see, hear, taste, smell, or touch. For example, grass under your feet or the feeling of wind and sunlight.
6. Connect with animals – watch out for wildlife even if you live in a city, check out a local park to look for squirrels, fish, insects, ducks, and other birds. Visit a local community or city farm, you might be able to help out by volunteering.

Take a look at how the people we support choose to connect with nature…