The spring is a time for fresh beginnings. As the days stretch and the temperature rises triggering nature to wake from its winter slumbers, we often feel more inclined to get outside too.
When did you last just take yourself off for a walk by yourself without any distractions – no dog, no podcast or your endless to-do list whirling around your head? Why not try something a little different this spring: mindful walking?
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise so helps to boost our physical fitness. Mindfulness is about being fully present or ‘in the moment’. It means we are not scrolling through our phone, listening to music or thinking about something that happened earlier in the day or planning what we might have for tea. It is all about using our senses and noticing what is going on around us and how our bodies feel in the present. Doing a little mindfulness each day can really lift your mood. Yes, your mind will inevitably wonder, but don’t beat yourself up, just gently bring yourself back to what is round about you.
Why not plan a regular walk to a local greenspace without any distractions and really notice what nature you can see around you? As spring unfolds it accelerates and you will find there is always something new to notice on your walk. A new flower coming into bloom, different trees coming into leaf and the birds, animals and insects going about their business.
During lockdown I started a regular practice of going out for a walk everyday before I started work. The local greenspace I go to is nothing special, but I have grown to love it and found it to be really grounding and therapeutic just noticing what is going on in ‘my’ greenspace. It is a short 15 minute walk but it keeps me in touch with the seasons, the weather (we have plenty of weather in Scotland) and all the local plants and animals that frequent that space. There is always something new to notice and the fresh air, natural daylight and physical activity all have positive health benefits. Give it a go and see how you feel after your walk.
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