How do you cope with feeling overwhelmed?

If you are feeling overwhelmed then spending time in nature helps ease this for a number of reasons.

a photo I took from my local park, enjoying the autumn colours in the early morning sun

It gives you a sense of perspective on your current challenges

Enjoying the beauty of nature calms those emotions.

There is a lot of research showing the benefits of spending time in nature. I recommend you do your own research on this.

However, I also recommend that you focus on your feelings to understand the benefits. Consciously consider your feelings before you spend time with nature and do the same afterwards. Reflect deeply on what you enjoyed and use this to adjust your practice. Your personal experience tells you what works, what doesn’t and what to adjust. You can evolve your relationship with nature as you discover what works best for you.

Making it a conscious and deliberate practice helps a great deal.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Reflect on somewhere in nature that attracts you that is easy for you to access regularly (e.g. back garden, local park). It might be somewhere you feel particularly happy or safe. Don’t look for perfection — watching a nature documentary may be the most accessible thing for you at this moment and you are still enjoying nature.
2. Consider how you might make this…