Self-Care Sunday
Going out in nature can work wonders for your mind
This is the latest in my occasional series on the importance of engaging in some self-care in order to help you deal better with the fight against worldwide authoritarianism and fascism.
With the weather finally moving on from the cold winter season there are more opportunities to step away from the computer, turn off your phone, and step outside. At least the opportunities are there—if the weather cooperates. I live in the Baltimore-Washington, DC area where, for the past several weeks, the weather has been alternating between periods of rain and periods of clouds with cool temperatures then more rain followed by clouds with cool temperatures, etc.
Despite the frequent rain and clouds there is the occasional day when the sun is out, the weather is perfectly warm (but not too hot), and the humidity is very low. When the weather is that perfect, I have a much harder time staying indoors.
It doesn't hurt to occasionally turn away from the world's troubles and just step outside into nature. I know that it's easier said than done if you live in an urban area but many cities have public parks. The most famous New York City attraction is a public park—Central Park.
Even if the nearest urban or suburban park to your home is small, it's still nice to visit for an hour or two to see the local wildlife frolic about or to see the flowers in full bloom.
You don't need to spend several hours outside to get the positive mental health benefits. If all you can manage is only five minutes outside, it's better than not stepping outside at all.
Here are some tips on getting outside into nature. I also need to put out this message before you start going outside: If you plan on spending more than a half-an-hour outside, wear sunscreen, light clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat. Skin cancer is really a thing. If you are planning to go through a heavily wooded area, put on insect repellant as well. Ticks and mosquitoes are ready and willing to bite you and some of those insects may carry nasty illnesses, such as Lyme disease.
Go for a walk. It doesn't have to be a long walk nor does it have to involve traveling to a distant place to walk. If all you can manage is to just step outside of your home and do only a five-minute walk through your neighborhood, that's fine. In fact, if you're an out-of-shape couch potato, you'll be better off with just starting with a five-minute walk then gradually increase your walking time once you can walk for five minutes without feeling stiff or out of breath.
Go biking or scootering outside. It’s an environmentally friendly alternative to driving your car plus you will get physical exercise. If you don't have a bike or scooter, the good news is that there are rental companies like Lime and Uber where you can download an app, find the location of the nearest scooter or bike that is available for rent, pay the fee, then use the bike or scooter for a certain time frame. If you're someone with certain physical disabilities (such as arthritis) you can always get an adult tricycle. You can either buy these tricycles new from a bike shop or used from Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
Take up gardening. Even if you live in an apartment with no lawns there are plenty of books and YouTube videos on how to use your apartment balcony to engage in container gardening and even provide information on which plants are suitable for container gardening. What to grow in your garden? If you grow vegetables you can have fresh produce during the summer months without spending money at a supermarket or farmers market. (You can even learn how to can extra produce in the late summer and early fall to store for the winter.) If you grow herbs you can have a source of fresh spices to add to your meals when cooking them. (Additionally many herbs can be frozen so you can continue to enjoy your homegrown spices during the winter months.) Flowers are good if you like having cut flowers at your dining room table. (If you’re crafty, you can try pressing flowers to use in craft projects or drying flowers to make sachets and potpourri with.) Plus they have an added benefit of providing food for the local bees and hummingbirds. Try growing marigolds alongside your vegetables as a source of natural pest control. Consult your local plant nursery or master gardener program for more ideas on what to grow in your area.
Cook outdoors. From spring until early fall it's common to see people in my area cooking their food outside on a barbecue grill. There's something enjoyable about fixing your meal on a grill then sit down at a nearby table and eat your meal outside. If you don't have the money or space for a fancy propane grill you can buy a portable grill and some coal to make your own meals with.
Visit a local park or garden. Many public parks and gardens have guided nature trails that you can go on. Many of these nature trails are not too strenuous so if you have to use a cane or wheelchair you can still get out in nature. There are also plenty of benches where you can simply sit down and enjoy the natural view. Or you can bring along your favorite book and read it outside. You can even pack a picnic lunch and make a full day at the park by bringing food and drink so you can eat breakfast and/or lunch outside.
Visit a fun farm or entertainment farm. These are family-run farms that open their place to the general public. Depending on the farm in question, they might offer tractor or truck trips around the farmland or a petting zoo where you can pet various farm animals like goats or a playground for children. They may have a store on the premises for you to buy fresh produce or fresh meat/poultry/cheese/ice cream. In some cases you could even rent a portion of the farm to host your next birthday party or wedding reception.
Last summer I shot this short two-minute video about such a farm known as Rocky Point Creamery, which is located in Western Maryland near the Virginia border.
A few years earlier I shot this short nearly 30-minute documentary for an art, music, and film festival that I participated in. It was about how a local farm in Ellicott City called Clark's Elioak Farm had managed to acquire the attractions from a once-popular fairy tale and nursery rhyme theme park known as The Enchanted Forest, which went out of business in the 1990s.
Many of these farms allow the family to hold on to their land (which, in many cases, have been in the family for generations) while providing a glimpse of the farming life for people who live in the cities and suburbs. To find such a farm near you, do a Google search on “entertainment farms” or “fun farms.”
Visit a vineyard. There are vineyards that allow people to visit at certain times. Many times you'll be allowed to sample the wines they have available while also purchasing the wines you like right on the premises. For children and non-drinkers they frequently offer grape juice to try. Depending on the vineyard, you could be given a tour of the grounds or the vineyard might include a full restaurant where you can order a full meal. Some of them might even offer live entertainment from local musicians. To find such a vineyard near you, just do a Google search.
Take a day trip to a further away place to experience nature. Day trips are the perfect alternatives for people who want a vacation but don't have the time or money for one. The whole idea is to leave early in the morning for a place that's located about an hour or two away then return by nighttime. With day trips you don't have to worry about booking a hotel/motel/Airbnb because you won't be spending the night. If you pack your own food and drink instead of eating in a local restaurant, you can save even more money.
While you could take the car for such a trip, if you don't have a car, you could take a train or bus (such as Greyhound). Or, if you live in an urban area with no car and can't even afford a train or out-of-the-area bus trip, you could use public transportation to visit a park or some other kind of nature area that's located in an entirely different part of the city from where you usually go. Or go to a place that's located in a nearby suburb. The whole idea is to have a new experience in nature that will take you mind off of your troubles.
Take a weekend or week-long trip to a nature spot. If you can afford to do this, go for it. If you can only afford a weekend, then go for the weekend. If you can afford a week, then that's great. If you don't mind “roughing it,” you can pack a tent, food, and drinks. If sleeping in tents is not your thing, you can rent a room in a nearby hotel, motel, or Airbnb. Many of the more popular nature spots, such as Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, offer all kinds of amenities for those who aren't into pitching tents and cooking meals over a campfire.
Other Self-Care Sunday Tips
Contact current friends and make new ones.
Step away from social media for a few hours.
Cultivate a sense of humor and laugh.
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