The end of school and the busyness of the Aug-May schedule is a time for families to get outdoors. There are all kinds of camps and organized activities for adults and children, but structured activities may make you feel like you’re still in the hamster wheel of “go-go-go.” Just making a point to sit in the sunshine, feel the breeze on your face, and look at flowers each day can be refreshing.
It may sound a little odd but there is a Japanese practice known as shinrin-yoku that can make a huge difference to our overall health. What does shinrin-yoku mean in English? Forest-bathing. While you can forest-bathe anytime of year, May, June and into July would be a perfect time because the leaves provide an insulating cocoon. Walking slowly, breathing deeply, and really noticing nature around you and the sound of the breeze can do wonders for your mind and your soul.
Of course, not every schedule allows for daily or even weekly forest-bathing, but there are still ways to bring nature into your life for its benefits.
A way to get our minds thinking of nature is to read books centered in nature. For adults, this might mean reading a book about a natural habitat, like Yellowstone National Park, or an animal. When it comes to children’s literature, there is no shortage of books about every animal under the sun or natural settings, from beaches to mountains to forests to savannahs. Your mind can bathe in nature even when your body can’t.
Another way to bring nature into your life is to watch a documentary film about the natural world. Born to Be Wild narrated by Morgan Freeman and My Octopus Teacher are two excellent options to consider.
If you work in an office or at a desk all day, you might not have the opportunity to get out much to refresh yourself. What about purchasing some inexpensive fresh flowers once a week for your desk? (Baby’s breath is light, fresh, and holds up much better than some more delicate flowers at florist shops or the grocery.) Maybe make your computer screensaver a nature background to at least get some green color into your retina each day.
There are many ways to incorporate nature into your life and it all adds up to one big difference in your mental health for the better.