There is nothing better than getting out in nature to improve your well being, to lift your spirits. Spending time in nature has been found to help problems like anxiety and depression. Ecotherapy is the practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing. You might hear it called green care, green exercise, or green therapy.
I don't know that I ever thought about it in clinical terms, but I know that I always feel better after doing something outdoors. It could as simple as cleaning my backyard, or taking a walk around the block. A walk in a park, or a hike in a National Park could be the solution to how you're feeling as well.
Some people have a preference for the beach, water and sand; some for the mountains, trees, rivers or a lake. Here in Arizona, I have come to love being out in a desert. Whatever your preference, spending time in nature can help us de-stress.
I think once we get outdoors, we forget about scrolling through our phones, worrying about the pile of bills on the desk, wondering what we're going to cook for dinner. It gives us a chance to breathe easier, and if you're really looking close, to observe the tiny miracles of nature. We all know that a tree grows from a tiny seed, that it's a process, and sometimes we just see a tree. But if we think of the miracle of a tiny seed that sprouts, puts down roots, then continues to grow for years, decades and sometimes centuries, it's something to marvel over! Without the tree, a bird has no place to build a nest, a squirrel has no place to find nuts to eat .... you get the picture. It all comes and goes around and around.
So when you're feeling low or out of sorts, and don't know how to make yourself feel better, think about a walk in a park, or around the block. You'll feel better quickly!
“Now I see the secret of making the best person,
it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
– Walt Whitman
