Mindfulness

The 21st Century has seen the advent of many technologies and social norms that have removed our ability to connect with the present and take real notice of the world around us. Birdwatching, particularly surveying birds, is one way to give purpose to such notice – but even then, it may not give an accustomed eye the opportunity to linger on the wonder of our whole experience in each moment.

Losing our ability to be ‘present’ inhibits our ability to relax, to switch off, which can have dramatic impacts on our mental health. With this in mind, the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) decided to invest to ensure the continued health of its members and the wider birdwatching community, with a bird-focused mindfulness exercise that can be downloaded from their website. The question you might now be asking yourself is, “what is mindfulness?”.

Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of where you are and what you’re doing, without becoming distracted by it or judging it in any way. This awareness of the present is a natural human instinct. However, as with most abilities, it needs training to be honed into a skill.

The skill of mindfulness can be trained through a light touch form of meditation, which can be done anywhere in the world. In teaching the mind to be present, we are teaching ourselves to live more mindfully.

By not being beholden to reactive thoughts and feelings, we can teach ourselves to live in the moment, which can greatly improve our mental health, as well as our ability to deal with challenging or stressful situations.

Where better in the world to become present to yourself and your surroundings than outside, in nature, surrounded by wildlife?

That’s why BTO has created ‘Stop to Watch’, a podcast that helps us take time out to immerse in nature and notice the birdlife around us; a break from our busy lives to let our minds rest and linger on how extraordinary the ordinary things are! Whether you’re new to enjoying the wonders of wildlife or a seasoned birder, everyone can benefit from connecting with nature through mindful birdwatching.

The short podcast, narrated by actor Martin Shaw, introduces you to mindfulness and birds, which you can download to use at home or out on a walk. So whether you’re planning to take a walk through a local park or enjoying your garden during these difficult times, Stop to Watch could help you reduce your stress and anxiety levels to support you through the lockdown.

Put the binoculars and notebook away and give yourself time with nature with no other distractions. Watch, listen and notice all you see, hear, feel and smell. Let the stresses of the day melt away and try to be present in the moment where you sit or stand. Visit bto.org/podcast to find out more and download.

Why not take it a step further, or many thousands of steps further, and do all your birding on foot, for a year at least? Bird Watching contributor David Chandler is doing just that this year, and editor Matt Merritt lost three stone in weight while doing it 10 years ago. You could even take on our sister magazine Country Walking’s #Walk1000Miles challenge at the same time.

BW’s