Nurturing

When you feel out of kilter, you can be more vulnerable to anxiety or feeling uneasy. Even those who are self-sufficient need to be looked after at times. If your focus is usually on supporting others, you may underestimate your vulnerability. A yearning to connect with green spaces may come from a need for self-nurture. You may be well aware that time in green spaces has a therapeutic effect, but still feel sceptical that just being outdoors will help soothe your anxiety or boost your mood. Negative emotions can be overpowering, so it’s not surprising that we feel it will take something far more significant than a walk to shift them.

Commit to spending time in a green space every day for 10 days, then check in with how you feel at the end. For best effects, jot down how you felt before, during and after your walks. Note anything you saw or experienced – however small – that you felt moved by, or appreciated. Notice any patterns. The solace of nature isn’t a quick fix, but the accumulated effects can help build resilience and sustain you through life’s challenges.