The sun is shining, albeit behind a cloud today, but it’s warmer than it has been and the outdoors is becoming alive with chitter chatter, lawn mowers, children and birds. The weather is drawing people out from their homes. Gardens are being used for sitting out, playing, planting flowers and socialising.
Being outside in the warmth of the sun and light breeze brings a calm to the day. It’s like taking a big deep breath and sighing it out and feeling any weight just fall from your shoulders.
As we now watch summer start to take hold of the country, we can enjoy the long summery days with our friends and family and become more outdoorsy than we are in the colder months.
Whilst most of us have to work and aren’t able to enjoy all these days as we would like. Use this to your advantage by planning in some time for you to be outdoors. You don’t need to book time off work (you can if you want) but why not fit going outside with your morning/ lunchtime/ evening routine. So you can ensure to get a bit of sunshine and fresh air once or twice a day out with you daily commute.
Start with your morning. What time do you get up? Are you someone who takes hours to get ready, enjoying a lovely leisurely pace. If so, why not get your breakfast and sit outside. You don’t need any outdoor furniture, sit on your doorstep or on a cushion. The chances are you already enjoy your toast or cereal with a coffee or tea watching tv whilst slowly getting ready or reading your phone whilst you munch away, sit outside instead and pay attention to your surroundings.
Maybe you are all go, go, go in the morning and barely have time to eat let alone sit outside as you have a houseful to get ready and get out the door so grabbing a coffee in your to go cup is the closest you get to breakfast. Ok so a little bit trickier. But what can you stop doing or cut out to free up 5 minutes to drink your first coffee outdoors so you can take your second on the run? What part of your routine can you give up or do later or delegate if you have children old enough to do the task in hand. For example, are you laying out clothes for your child that they could do themselves or could you do it the night before? What about doing the dishes – get the kinds involved and teach them. Work out what can be shifted or passed on from your morning tasks that means you can enjoy a freshly made hot cup of coffee sitting on your step, having a relaxing, carefree moment.
Lunchtimes you may afford to take some time out to go for a walk or sit in the park and feel the sun on your face. Have a picnic, whether you buy your lunch or take it with you, take a blanket, lay it out and enjoy. Take your shoes and socks off and feel the soft blanket beneath your feet or really enjoy feeling the grass between your toes. Going back to work after lunch you will feel refreshed and ready for what the afternoon will throw at you. If sitting outside is not practical or within your area, then go for a walk, whether you leisurely pace yourself or go for a speed walk, ensure you take some long deep breaths to start and sigh out any stresses of your day so far.
Evenings for many of us, are filled with different activities, trying to fit anything else in could prove challenging. How to get some free time so you can enjoy the outdoors one evening – instead of watching 4 episodes of your favourite show, why not go for a walk, sit outside, do some gardening, play with your children in the garden for the length of one programme. Set a timer if you wish. Although I am sure once you get into it, you will find it tricky to stop.
But it isn’t always possible, it can be difficult to have the extra time, if you are running around with your children dropping them off and picking them up. Could you ask your children’s friends parents to take it in turns each week, so you can have a free evening one day a week or fortnight to get outside, even if it is for a short while. Feel the fresh air in your lungs and on your arms and face. Or why not say, after your evening meal is finished, you take a drink, whether soft drink or herbal tea or whatever you like outside. Enjoy this moment and don’t feel guilty about it.
Other ideas could include, doing your usual online yoga outside, having your daily or weekly family chats on a walk instead of sitting on the sofa, walking to the shop instead of jumping in your car when you have forgotten an ingredient. There are many way to add the outdoors into your daily life, it doesn’t take too much thought. A few tweaks here and there in your current routine can mean you get to spend some extra time in the outdoors. See what you can do to add a little sunshine to your day.
Have a great week, wear sunscreen. Take care and look after you.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 