Get Out of the House! : Yes, that’s right; you can improve your health just by stepping outdoors. Close your eyes and visualize with me, if you will (o.k., close one eye; use the other one to read along!). Step out your back door and look around. What do you see? The pecan trees blowing gently in the wind, a antenna or two runs up and down the trunk. Cardinals and blue jays are flitting about, calling to each other. The recycling bin needs to go down by the street…wait a minute! Don’t look at that. We’re heart on nature, here. o.k., back to it. The sky is blue, with a few puffy clouds floating by. Take a bottomless breath. And another. Walk out into the garden and only look around at all natural history has to offer. Carry on breathing intensely and see if you can spot something small yet wondrous you may have not noticed before – baby lizards scampering in the grass or some new flower buds prepared to burst open.
Once you’ve completely explored your garden, take a seat and continue to unwind. You may want to get a glass of lemonade (or cocoa, depending on the weather) to sip while you calm down, clearing your mind of all but you and your place in the world. Remember, this is a time to let the stress of the day go – not to rehash your anxieties. Think about the various muscles in your body, tensing them and then letting them unwind as fully as possible. Is it warm outside? Use a fan or misting hose to keep you cool as you relax into the arms of the air and natural world around you. Is it chilly out? Dress more warmly and light up your chimney or outdoor fireplace. Pondering the flickering flames is a great way to unwind.
For many of us, getting all perspiring with exercise does not sound at all tempting as a way to unwind and de-stress at the end of a busy workday or week. Doing something, however, is needed. You may not have to jog 5 miles to get in the right mindset to let your hair down – simply getting outside and enjoying what’s around you can do the trick.
If you have the time and the wish and want to do more than enjoy your own backyard, check out the natural resources your group of people has to offer. Even the most overfull of urban cities has some “green space” for residents to take pleasure in. A walk through your local park or finding a cozy spot at a near state or national forest to relax is sure to help you achieve the calm of mind you are looking for.