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If you are struggling to carry your grief and it is keeping you from living the life you want, take a moment to go outside and get fresh air in grief. As we dive into summer, this is a perfect opportunity to find solace and comfort in the outdoors. Beautiful days are headed your way, in more ways than one.
‘Get fresh air in grief‘ means to go outside!
One of the best ways you can refresh yourself is by going for a walk in nature. This is a time you can stretch your legs if you’ve been sitting all day, especially if it has been hard to find motivation to get out of bed. We understand the hardships that come with grief, especially when you are sitting with a tissue box nearby. It’s okay to grieve your loss, after all, you loved them. Let yourself find a bit of hope, as that is something you truly need at this moment. Going outside in fresh air can do more than give you exercise. It can let you find that spark of hope.
“’There are many studies that demonstrate how spending time in nature can improve mood, lower anxiety, and improve cognition and memory,‘ says Mayo Clinic nurse practitioner Jodie M. Smith, APRN., C.N.P., D.N.P., M.S.N. ‘Making time for nature is important in order for us to maintain resiliency and promote self-care in a world that demands a lot from us.‘ …In addition to alleviating stress, Smith says research indicates that exposure to nature can be an effective coping strategy for those with chronic mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).”
– Sara Youngblood Gregory, The mental health benefits of nature: Spending time outdoors to refresh your mind from Mayo Clinic
Ideas for spending time outside
Here are some ideas you can rejuvenate, relax, and feel refreshed:
- Take a casual stroll
- Go hiking
- Ride a bike
- Travel to local or national parks
- Travel to a nearby or faraway beach
- Have a picnic outside (or join us for our picnic on the patio event)
- Read in a hammock or lawn chair
- Sit by the fire
- Go horseback riding
- Take your dog for a walk
For how long?
“A 2021 study, for example, found that the 20- to 90-minute sessions in nature were most beneficial for mental health, with gardening, nature-based therapy and exercise in green spaces being the most effective for adults.
One large survey found that people who spent at least two hours a week in nature — whether in one longer outing or in multiple smaller chunks of time — were more likely to positively describe their health and well-being than were people who spent no time in nature. If that seems unattainable, Smith recommends that you aim for 15 minutes each day.”
– Sara Youngblood Gregory, The mental health benefits of nature: Spending time outdoors to refresh your mind from Mayo Clinic
Not into walking? Here’s some ideas
- Take your journal with you. Write down the scene around you and describe how it makes you feel. What are you feeling at this moment? What does nature around you do to what you are experiencing? Reflect upon the day. Allow yourself to sit for a moment and ponder your thoughts. You could also sketch something if you are in the mood to doodle.
- Take some time to breathe in slowly and exhale in a breathing exercise. Breathing exercises can help you relax and release tension within. One way to do that is by taking a deep breath with your diaphragm and exhaling in a way like pushing air through a straw. Imagine your unwanted and dark thoughts going away with the wind, like dandelion seeds.
Bakken-Young is here
Bakken-Young is a source of support for you as you grieve–before, during, and after your loss. We have ways you can receive help through this difficult time. Grief groups, virtual groups like Coffee & Conversation, and summer gatherings are ways we get together to help one another carry our grief. One event coming up this July is a picnic on our back patio at our New Richmond location. Find more details here. You are always welcome to contact us, please do as we are glad to be of your service.
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