As temperatures this mid-January have hovered in the single digits, I hear the experts cautioning us to stay warm and stay inside. For an extreme temperature day this may be good advice, but for most days of the year finding ways to be outside may very well have positive effects on your attention and thinking, your mood, and the quality of your relationships.
Decades ago, as a young mom of five young children, I recall hearing of happiness studies where people who had greater access to nature had fewer health complaints and reported better moods. So began my intention to be outside most days. Those studies are still coming in with a preponderance of evidence pointing to the benefits of exposure to the great outdoors.
Some days a nearby wood would call to me and just being among the trees helped me gain perspective and hear the wisdom of nature. Other days, walking by tall grasses or water allowed me to find ways to radically accept my feelings and feel better. I learned to bend as the grasses and trees bent in the breeze. And being in nature had, and has, the dual benefit of being an invitation to movement. I walked outside. I ran along snow covered running trails. I learned to love cross country skiing in the quiet snow. And it still invites me.
But, wanting to be outside more isn’t the same as being outside or moving outside. Some practical steps may help make it more likely that today, you’ll leave the screens, gather some clothing to keep warm, put on good boots and get outside. So do just that. Think layers to help trap air. Get a good coat. Invest in a balaclava or a ski mask for extra cold days. Don’t forget a hat or good mittens to keep your hands warm. (And the packaged hand and feet warmers can make a big difference on these single digit days.) Boots deserve a lot of attention because you’re only as happy in the winter as your feet are warm. Check it out for yourselves. Run or walk on our next snowy day and notice how you feel. Take some deep breaths and notice the stark beauty of winter. You may even find yourself making a snow angel or picnicking outdoors like the happier Scandinavians or maybe you may just feel a little more alive and a little more yourself.
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