We are really excited to introduce our first guest blog post, kindly submitted by Jeni Bell, from Seeking Wild Sights.

Jeni is a keen blogger and photographer of all things wild. She is currently living in a van and travelling the UK with her other half and rather neurotic Jack Russell. Passionate about nature close to home, she is a firm believer that nature is everywhere, not just in far flung locations or well-manicured nature reserves – it's about being aware of what’s around you wherever you are. She is happiest whilst out walking with a camera and a pair of binos.

"I spend a lot of time in front of screens, whether that’s my laptop, writing, or my phone, checking in with social media, planning routes for our camper van trips, or just replying to emails. It’s all-consuming and completely addictive. The glare from the screen, the tapping of keyboards, the ringtones and voicemails – it’s draining.

I’ve found myself sucked in on more than one occasion, engrossed in the instance of it all and the
need to get those to-do lists checked off. I get this tunnel vision, where it seems as though I’m
wearing blinkers and I completely lose my sense of my peripheral. Sounds become muffled like I’m
underwater, and the pressure builds in my ears until my whole head feels like it’s being crushed. My
head swims, my eyes hurt, and the room closes in on me until it’s just me and a device and a
deadline. If I don’t catch it quickly it spreads and becomes the norm. The next day starts in a zombie-like state, and it begins to spiral out of control until I find myself in my pyjamas for the next week with only a glimmer of sunlight through the window.

There are warning signs though, before it spins out of control. As well as a noticeable tension in my
shoulders, there’s an urge. The urge to feel the cool of the grass on bare feet, warm sunlight flushing
my cheeks or to place my hands on a tree trunk, with the rough bark against the flat of my palm. Some urges are worth giving into. I try to take regular breaks and get outdoors, and if I start to feel that zombified sensation I immediately stop what I’m doing, save my work and step away from the technology. Getting outside instantly helps; the breeze on my face refreshes me, and helps to snap me out of my groggy state, but sometimes just time spent by an open window is a suitable substitute. You can find nature almost anywhere if you’re willing to look.

The transition between inside and outside is always notable; it seems to melt onto my skin, and I can
feel the tension start slip out of my upper body. The first thing that filters through my brain fog is bird song. It’s actually one thing I always try to find wherever I am – if the work load is big or I’m just feeling low, I find it helps to focus on what sounds I can hear. I take my brain space away from glowing screens, shut my eyes and tune in to nature's soundtrack. At first, it’s all a jumble, there’s cars, people talking, planes overhead, dogs barking and wind rustling leaves and branches. But listen hard enough and it’s there, the delicate piping noise of birdsong. It’s such a relief when I pick up on it, because it instantly makes me smile. It takes me back to when I was a child: warming spring mornings, as the sun rises and dawn chorus floats in through my bedroom window. Bird song will always bring me a sense of comfort and happiness, and connecting to that makes it easier to get through whatever task is at hand. The more I listen to it, the more I’m able to pick out different songs and calls: perhaps it’s the treble of a wren, the chattering of a sparrow or the flutey bold notes of a blackbird. For me, picking the sounds apart is an effective mindfulness exercise.

Being mindful of one thing allows the rest of my senses to open up. I get my peripheral vision back
and become aware of the colours that surround me, the scent of flowers and earth, the taste of
fresh air in my lungs. It inspires me to get up and be active, to stretch my legs and take it all in, which
is important because sometimes I get so caught up in my work routine of laptops and coffee that I
barely exercise, which leads me into even more of a zombie slump.

Nature for me is essential because it keeps me healthy, it breaks up my routine and offers me a way
to stay active, mindful and connected. I have always turned to nature because it has always been a
constant for me, it’s something that has always been there for me and something that has always
been effective. It’s free, and it doesn’t require a prescription, it’s just there and no matter where I
am, I can find evidence of it somewhere – whether that’s my bird song, a huge wild space, or a tiny
plant fighting its way through a crack in the pavement. And I usually find that, afterwards, when I sit back down to meet my deadline, I’m much more inspired."

We hope you enjoyed our first guest post as much as we did!

You can follow Jeni's blog and find out more at www.seekingwildsights.co.uk
or follow her adventures on Instagram: @seekingwildsights

What Nature Does for Us

You may be wondering what all the fuss is about: does nature actually benefit us, and if so, how? We compiled this blog post to answer just that, in the hope that it will inspire you to grab your boots and get outdoors. Research is continuing to uncover more and more benefits of spending time in nature, and we'll share some of these with you now.

It lowers stress and lifts your mood 

Reduction in stress levels is a well-known benefit of immersing yourself in nature. The production of stress hormones (cortisol) is reduced, consequently improving your overall mood. Feelings of anger and fear are also reduced, and boredom can be alleviated. Research has shown that those who suffer from depression experience a lift in mood after spending time in nature, and people battling anxiety experience short-term reductions in anxiety. One study found that engaging in physical exercise in nature significantly boosted both mood and self-esteem. 

It improves your memory

Time spent walking in nature has been shown to improve short-term and working memory. One study showed that people suffering from depression experience an improvement in memory span, and similar research suggests that short-term memory can be boosted by up to 20%.

It improves problem-solving and creativity

If you're ever experiencing writer's block, or you're searching for that 'Eureka!' moment, you may want to step out into nature for a while. Just 20 minutes in nature improves overall cognitive function, which lends itself to problem-solving and creativity. Participants in one study scored a whopping 50% higher on a creativity test after spending just 3 days in nature (I highly recommend listening to 'The 3 Day Effect' by Florence Williams on Audible, which explores the benefits of nature on wellbeing and trauma recovery, using experiments such as the one aforementioned). 

It has physical benefits

Even a slow amble in nature gets you moving, and any form of exercise is beneficial to your physical and mental health. Time spent in nature has been shown to reduce inflammation, which can have long-term health impacts and cause illnesses such as depression and inflammatory bowel disease. It also lowers blood pressure and reduces your heart rate, which can improve your overall health.

Convinced?

Hopefully this post gives you an insight into how nature might be able to benefit you. It's easy to get swept up in our modern world of urban environments and technology, but it's important to go back to our roots and spend time in the natural world. The healing powers of nature are truly extraordinary. 

Easing Out of Winter

Winter can be tough. The short days seem relentless, with many of us commuting to and from work during the hours of darkness. The cold nips at your toes and fingertips, damp seeps in to every corner of your home, and for the most part, the sun stays firmly seated behind thick grey clouds. As a result, it's common to feel down: 1 in 3 of us will suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression that usually affects people during the winter months. 

As we enter March, you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief as we race towards spring. Lawns are now studded with the heads of purple crocuses, bright yellow daffodils begin to bloom and birds start to sing again in anticipation of the breeding season ahead. Now is a really good time to go out into nature and absorb the changing seasons. Go outside, and try to tune in to your senses as you slowly walk along.

What can you see? Are there buds adorning the trees? Notice the different colours of the spring flowers you pass. Examine the negative spaces: patches of sky between skeletal branches, areas of soil between scattered fallen leaves, thin gaps between the trunks of trees. What patterns do you notice?

What can you hear? Are there birds calling or singing? Perhaps you can hear the beating wings of a Wood Pigeon in flight, the buzz of a freshly emerged queen bumblebee searching for a nest site, or the quiet rush of distant traffic. Can you hear water? The trickle of a stream, the rush of a river or the gentle hush of waves as the ocean meets the shore. Close your eyes for a moment, and focus on the noises around you.

What can you smell? What does the air smell like? Fresh and clean, or damp and earthy? Can you smell the recent rain? Bend down and sniff each flower, and reach up to catch the sweet scent of every blossom. Focus on your breathing. Take some deep breaths: inhale slowly (count to 3), hold for 3, and then exhale slowly (count to 3). 

What can you feel? Stroke the bark of trees. Some is rough, old and weathered, whereas some is smooth and delicate. Touch different leaves; are they furry, smooth or waxy? Pay attention to the vast array of textures in nature. Notice how your feet feel when they are rooted to the ground. How does it feel to take a step? Do your feet sink into sticky mud or fall upon soft grass?

Tuning into our senses in this way is a really good method for focusing on the present, rather than preoccupying ourselves with worries and distracting thoughts. Remember to make time in your schedule to go outdoors, especially now the days are stretching in length, and the sun is gracing us with her warming beams ever more frequently as we leap into spring. Take care of yourself - x

Welcome

Welcome to the Nature for Wellbeing blog! I'm Ellie Mayhew, and I thought I'd start off by explaining my reasons for setting up NFW.

Some of you who know me are aware that I’ve struggled with my mental health in the past, having periodically suffered from anxiety and depression since I was 17. Talking therapy has been hugely helpful to me during these times, and I have utilised both CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Person-Centred Therapy.

However, one of my main salvations during these periods was time spent in nature; somehow experiencing fresh green leaves fluttering in the breeze, hearing the melodious song of a Goldfinch and the smell of fresh rain really grounded me and connected me with the present. I guess it acts as a kind of mindfulness. More and more research is proving that even brief immersion in the natural world is beneficial to our mental health and wellbeing, and so, based on this and my own positive experiences, I wanted to create a platform to promote the use of nature for wellbeing. As a result, NFW was born. 

I'd like to use this space to share self-care tips, ways to engage with nature, my own experiences and anything else I feel may help those going through a tough time. Thank you for reading!