Spending more time in nature
With brighter skies and warmer air on the horizon, now is the time to dust off your sneakers and hiking books and get outdoors. The impending summer season can often inspire the onslaught of gym memberships, bootcamps, and fitness regimens in order to get “in shape” for hot and sandy beach days, however there is a simpler solution to whip your physical and mental health into shape - simply spending more time in nature. Going for a daily walk makes you healthier while clearing your mind and giving your endorphins a boost. Switch up your routine by finding routes near you to keep things interesting, or get outside with friends and family for a game of football or tennis. Some of my favorite ways to spend time in nature are hiking, cycling down the towpath and painting en plein air in a bluebell wood near my home. Not only does it shake up my daily studio routine, but serves as endless inspiration for so many of my botanical pieces (watch this space!). If you’re inspired to spend more time outdoors check out some of my suggestions:
Paint outside: Like I mentioned, I enjoy painting plein air in both oils and watercolors! Whether you have an easel and plein air kit, or you just take a sketchbook on a walk with you, painting outside is such a great way to better notice your surroundings and appreciate the beauty in nature! Remember, it doesn’t have to be good, just have fun!
Switch up your daily walk for a bike ride: Whether it’s biking to work or just out for an evening ride, cycling is such a great way to explore a new area that’s too far to walk, get some exercise and enjoy the warmer weather.
Get some friends together and watch the sunrise: Early birds get your friends together and find a scenic spot to watch the sunrise! With more people exploring popular hiking spots, it’s a great way to jumpstart your day and also skip the crowds. We love heading up the Mourne Mountains to watch the sunrise from the top of Slieve Binnian or Doan! You’ll create great memories, see amazing views and have an energizing boost for the rest of the day!
Find a book or blog filled with walking routes in your local area and work your way through it: I like to change up my walking path almost daily! Luckily we have a plethora of paths and routes around us in County Down. While I feel I’ve explored a lot, I know there’s so many I haven’t yet so following local travel or hiking accounts on Instagram, finding blog posts or even picking up a book are great ways to discover new places close to home you never thought existed before! Packing a picnic to take with you is a great way to stop and enjoy the scenery.
Make the most of your lunch breaks: When you work from home it can feel a bit same same all day moving from your bedroom to your home office (if you have one), or maybe even just from your bed to your kitchen table! It’s easy to work through the day without much of a break, so spending time outside while you take a lunch break is a great way to break up your day, get some rays on your face and get back to work feeling reenergized. Whether it’s in your backyard or taking a bit more time to head to a park, I guarantee you’ll be grateful you got outside!
Check out a local farmers market: Not everyone has paths and hikes on their doorstep, so for the city dwellers pushed for time and a lack of green space, check out the local farmers market in your area! It’s a great opportunity to people watch, support your community by shopping local as well as discovering fresh organic produce often missing from your local grocery store!
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
With love,
