The great outdoors!

Former Member

Hey,

So I thought I'd just share something from Mind that I read the other day about how good getting outdoors is for wellbeing! https://www.mind.org.uk/media/273470/ecotherapy.pdf

It's pretty wordy but it basically talks about how doing outdoor activities e.g. gardening, cycling or even going for a short stroll can really benefit you both physically and mentally.

I found it really interesting that it talks about how getting outdoors helps you escape from your mind and from your problems and it really resonated with me.

Sometimes I get the feeling of cabin fever when I have been stuck in the house or the office all day so I really like going for a walk in my local park and bringing a book with me so I can sit down on a bench and just escape into whichever book I'm reading at the time!

I was just wondering how everyone else feels about this? And any tips that you would give to people that don't normally go outdoors but want to give it a try?

Former Member

Hello,

Thank you for sharing this with us! the outdoors can be so beneficial and I know that for me when I go out I feel a lot better, one thing I do struggle with though is getting over the anxiety of actually leaving the house and know that others find this hard as well. I love to go for walks in the woods near my house, and go and feed the ducks at the pond   

Any tips... well I would say for anyone who wants to give going outdoors a try to find somewhere that you feel at peace with, somewhere that you feel free and also safe  I like the idea of taking a mini picnic, or like you said taking a book! 

Former Member

Going outdoors is definitely great. sometimes if I feel i've been in too long I'll go for a nice little walk, sometimes it's hard to encourage myself to go so I usually take 50p or a pound and get a cuppa or a bottle of water halfway through or for the walk home,  

Sometimes I'll "forget to buy bread" so I have to run to the corner shop etc

Walking is great you can go wherever you want,  for however long or little you want,  just try it in baby steps,  and stay safe when it's hot or cold x

Former Member

Going outdoors in very great I know because I love cycling and volunteering at a animal park animals are fun to be around better then humans even though there’s both lol 

Former Member

Thanks for sharing! I definitely relate to this and any time I'm not feeling a lot/ or feeling sad I try to get myself out the house for a little walk, which usually turns into a long walk!! 

Also my tip... I don't plan my route beforehand and deliberately take side roads I haven't been down before to explore and keep it interesting!! And get lost in music so I can forget about everything but where I am

Former Member

I also love to go cycling, although I haven't for a while but its so enjoyable and refreshing! 

Siena

A few years ago I used to go jogging early morning about 6 or 7. Like lol won't catch me doing that now. But I should because it was actually really good. The air is actually freasher at that time because of over night the cars are less around so less polluted air (I think anyways. Def feels freasher) and the after wards I weirdly felt more awake and felt more able to do things cause I guess started my energy up rather than doing nothing all day does make me more tired and sad but can't help it. Also just nice to be mindful of nature is nice too