Sometimes We Just Need Nature

Today, like many people, I was carrying the weight of responsibilities, chores and the constant feeling of being needed by others. The washing. The dishes. The messages. The endless to do list at work. The mental load that seems to follow us around wherever we go.

So I packed up Belle and drove.

I didn't really have a plan. I just knew I needed nature.

I found myself drawn to Brereton Heath Nature Reserve.

Usually when I go for a walk now, I make a conscious effort to notice. Learning about its importance, nature has taught me to slow down, look up and pay attention to what's around me.

But if I'm honest, my natural tendency is still to focus on getting from A to B. To reach the end of the route. To keep moving. To think about what's next.

Today I realised I was slipping back into that mindset.

As someone who talks about noticing nature and the benefits it can have on our wellbeing, I had to remind myself to do that.

To stop.

To look.

To listen.

To notice.

Not because it's always easy, but because sometimes we need that reminder.

I found a bench tucked amongst the trees and lay there.

And breathed.

As someone who runs nature-based wellbeing sessions, I suddenly found myself thinking, "Practice what you preach, Amy."

So I did.

I listened to the birds calling from every direction. I noticed the smell of the damp woodland. The gentle breeze against my skin. The distant sounds of children laughing and playing in nature.

I noticed my attention moving away from everything waiting for me at home and towards the environment around me.

As I sat there, I noticed physical changes too.

My breathing slowed.

My heart rate settled.

The tension I'd been carrying around all morning began to ease.

The constant stream of thoughts about what needed doing next became quieter.

It happens when I stop long enough to notice.

I often talk about the benefits of nature and wellbeing and today really reminded me that it's not just about being in nature. It's about paying attention to it.

The more I noticed what was around me, the more I noticed what was happening within me.

It's reassuring when your own experience reflects what the growing evidence base is telling us about the benefits of spending time in nature.

This is one of the things I love about nature. It doesn't ask anything of us. It just gives us space to pause long enough for our nervous system to catch up.

I closed my eyes and listened.

Different birds seemed to be chatting to one another above me. When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was the vibrant green canopy overhead. The leaves moved gently in the breeze like dancers performing their own quiet show.

In our busy lives, we rarely give ourselves permission to notice the small things.

Eventually Belle decided she was ready to continue her own sensory adventure, so we wandered on.

As we walked back, I spotted a little spot by the lake. Normally I'd have walked straight past. The car was nearby and messages were coming through from the children asking when I'd be home. Apparently tea doesn't cook itself and boredom prevention remains one of my official responsibilities.

But this time I stopped.

I got out my sit mat and sat by the water.

I watched the swans glide across the lake.

I listened to the birds.

I felt the warmth of the evening sun on my face and the coolness of the approaching evening air.

The overwhelm that had felt so intense earlier in the day had calmed.

The washing was still waiting at home.

The dishes hadn't magically disappeared.

Life was exactly as I'd left it.

But I wasn't.

I felt calmer.

More grounded.

More myself.

What hit me most wasn't the lake, the trees or the birdsong. It was the difference between how I arrived and how I left.

I arrived feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and emotionally drained.

I left feeling calmer, lighter and more connected to myself.

Nothing in my circumstances had changed.

But my body felt different.

My breathing felt different.

My thoughts felt different.

That's one of the reasons I'm so passionate about nature-based wellbeing. Not because nature fixes everything, but because it creates space. Space to breathe. Space to notice. Space to reconnect with ourselves when life feels loud.

Today's reminder was one I often share in my sessions:

When life feels too much, stop.

Go somewhere green.

Look up.

Listen.

Notice.

Pay attention not only to what's around you, but also to what is happening within you.

You might be surprised by what changes.

Do something just for you.

Because you're worth that too.

And perhaps that's the most important thing nature reminds us of.