Do you need to feel better? What can you do about that right now?
You don’t have to wait for your next vacation or the weekend. Invite yourself outside to sit on a bench in the park for a few minutes or for a short stroll.
Go outside. Get yourself out there. Go no matter how you feel. You don’t have to wait. Go out in any kind of weather.
Clapham Common Park bench and trees, London, on a cool and rainy day.
Going Outside: An Act of Self-Compassion
Think of going outside as an act of self-compassion. Think of going outside as treating yourself with kindness and gentleness. Try treating yourself as you would treat a friend. Invite yourself outside for a walk.
The moment you step outside and notice one new thing you never noticed before, you will be in the present moment.
You May Not Be Aware of Your Own Mind State
You may not be aware of our own mind state. Your thoughts might be squirreling around in a constant mental chatter.
You might be suffering. You might be criticizing yourself. You might be in incredible pain. The stress hormone, cortisol, might be racing around in your veins. Your reptilian brain might be lit up. You might feel attacked. You might be completely unaware that these are thoughts – they are not you.
Going outside is a way to feel safe again. The science is clear. Our minds and bodies respond to trees, shrubs, and grass. Being out for a short time in any green space around trees turns down our stress response. Going outside changes our thought patterns and lifts our mood.
St James Park London on another stunning and overcast day.
It’s Easier Than You Think
Going outside even for a few minutes will give you comfort. Start small. A minute or two a day will do the trick.
Since we all spend 93% of our time inside, going outside for frequent microbreaks will shift your mindset.
As a society, we have unlearned our ability to go outside. Our inside schedules have taken over. It is not easy to step away from our inside work, screens, beds, couches, food, and loved ones.
Try using Stanford psychologist BJ Fogg’s simple strategy of tiny habits. I use this approach. It works because it requires no will power.
If you are near a tree, look into its branches and reap the benefits of the stress-reducing fractals.
Go outside for an optimal mindset. Once I am outside, I call this “my beautiful outside mindset.”
A Compassionate and Easy Way to Help Yourself
Going outside is the compassionate way to deal with loss and frustration. This is something I know from my personal life with systemic lupus. I always need a way to embrace how difficult this path can be.
We all have losses and stepping outside is one sure way to help us through these. Going outside has helped me over and over again. Once outside, I know what I need.
Open Your Heart to Yourself
Going outside is a way of being open-hearted to yourself. It will also help you to be open-hearted to others. You will know what to do. You will know what to say. Your stable sense of self will come back to you. You will trust yourself again.
Going outside is a way to lift your spirits without the pitfalls of medication. Going outside will give you a pause to figure out what is going on in your body, mind, and heart. You will be able to figure out what’s happening. You will be able to create a plan.
Monchique Portugal in the clouds.
Be Curious About Yourself
Going outside is an act of self-awareness and self-compassion. It is like laying a hand over your heart in times of pain. It is noticing your body’s cues.
Be curious about yourself. Before you go outside, ask yourself: How am I feeling? Pretend you are your close friend. When you go outside, ask yourself: Where is my focus now?
These questions will help put you in the present.
Use Going Outside as a Tool to Feel Better Again
You don’t have to stay inside. Go outside with intention. Give yourself space. Give yourself attention. Change your brain chemistry. Use the outdoors to take away stress and help you to ease your emotions. Nourish your mind and body.
Start today. Very soon, going outside will take care of itself. You won’t have to wait for some future time to feel good outside. The comfort of the outdoors will be yours. You will be in charge of your emotions. Use the outdoors as your tool to feel better again. It’s easier than you think.
How much time do you spend outside on an average day? Do you feel too glued to indoor work or entertainment? Are you ready to invest a small amount of energy in getting outside more often? Do you know how you will get started?
Getting outdoors does have a profound effect to reset and rebalance!
Excellent article and well written. We are a part of nature and should absolutely immerse ourselves more into its beautiful surroundings. I feel instant benefits when I get out into the great outdoors after being stuck in the concrete jungle for too long.
I really think “nature” is such a stress reliever. I LOVE being in nature – it is just peaceful and makes you feel amazing!
I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t go outside. I’d lose my mind.
I love that our home is surrounded by many trails to explore within an hour’s drive. It helps to calm me whenever I can just explore the here and now amidst the shaded paths.
This is one of my favorite self care strategies! Even if walk for five minutes through my backyard garden or pull weeds while diner cooks, it refreshes me to get outside.
I love this article so much because I’m the kind of person who goes outside every chance I could get. I work long hours in the office so every weekend you’ll find me on the mountains, hiking.
This is beautiful!! Thank you, so often we think we need to have a purpose instead of ‘just go outside’ and see what happens. I used to tell my kids that when they were old enough to stay home while I ran errands. I’d say, come with me…you NEVER know what might happen if you come with me. …maybe nothing but we know for SURE what will happen if you stay here–NOTHING.
“Strategy of tiny habits.” What a wonderful phrase to add new healthy things to our day. I will remember this… I spend time outside every day on purpose, but have not been purposeful about it. I just know I feel better. I will try to add purpose, though I’m going to be watchful about adding a task to being outside. Maybe I don’t need to be purposeful outside to just be outside?
I absolutely love this post and agree with this post! There are so many benefits to being outside, and it’s so important to get outside as much as possible. I went for a walk this morning and feel great already!
Great perspective. It’s sad to think most people spend 93% of their time inside!
I am definitely guilty of spending too much time indoors. This was a good reminder!
I love being outdoors, and I have a particular affinity for being near water. I always thought this was some strange thing that stemmed from my childhood experiences, but maybe it’s more than that!
Love the sentiments! It’s true… you always feel better with a little time outdoors.
I think this is a great idea and so helpful. I am often stuck inside for hours a day and have found going outside can really lighten my mood. Great post!
Sometimes we forget the awe and wonder that we experience when we go outside. And we also forget to look up. We see the ground level, or eye level, but there are so many amazing things to see above us and we miss it. Thanks for the great reminder.
I’ve tried to incorporate at least 10 min a day outside just admiring the outdoors and breathing. It seems like such a measly amount of time but I feel it’s beneficial. Next step I want to make a special little sanctuary outside to go to maybe that will help me stay outside longer. 🙂
Great article!!!! I love trees. I love getting outside. It makes me feel so much better.
Wonderful suggestions! Always take time to ground yourself with Mother Earth. She is the restorer of so many things.
Being outside is a soul saver for me. I am all about being in the fresh air, sunshine, all of it!
Great ideas! We love being outside- it feels like home 🙂
I can always tell the days that I am inside too much. I don’t feel as well. It’s amazing what a short walk outside can do for my energy level and well being. Your post is a great reminder to take time to get outside daily.
I try to get my girls outside every day now that it’s nice, although I really need to make a point to do it even when it’s not so nice. Just need to bundle up! This past winter was rough, I had a brand new baby and it was SO cold, I just didn’t have it in me to bundle both girls up. It felt awful being stuck inside… But hopefully next winter will be easier, when my baby is a little bigger!
I truly believe this with all my heart. 🙂 Nature has so many healing powers.
I always feel better after I’ve been outside…even if it’s just for a few moments. The hard part is getting myself out there in the first place.
Nature nurture! <3 this!
I so agree with this!! My kids live to be outdoors!
Beautiful photos on your post it was refreshing!
I walk outside at my local park 3 times a week because I am intentional about being outdoors, I’m getting my exercise in, and I take beautiful photos of interesting things that I encounter when I’m there. So true that we are mostly an indoor society nowadays and we need to get out more.
Beautifully written and great advice! I always feel better when I get outside! Thank you for reminding me!
I love the photos! I enjoy being outside and love it when the weather starts to get warmer and I can spend more time outdoors!
Thank you for this wonderful reminder. I definitely don’t get outside enough, so I will make it intentional to do this as much as I can!
Nature is the best! We always need time to reset and just breathe.