by Jacoba Coes
During the pandemic many people suddenly embraced a daily walk, but for me being outside each day has been a lifelong habit.
Being Dutch I was raised with the concept of uitwaaien (OUT-vwy-ehn), ie. walking in the wind and blowing out thoughts and cobwebs in your mind. Nostalgia for the windy weather of the Netherlands means on a windy day you will find me walking with arms outstretched like a child to feel the wind. I come back home mentally refreshed!
But don’t just take my word for it - the Washington Post reported uitwaaien and it’s Norwegian equivalent friluftsliv (FREE-loofts-liv) have a positive impact on mental health. They align with attention restoration theory - Engaging in an activity that occupies your attention but doesn’t monopolize it, such as a gentle wind or being outside to redirect your thoughts.
The concept of biophilia, the human love of life and all that is alive, leads to the idea that we are attracted to nature and by immersing ourselves in it, it will in return restore our wellbeing. Current studies of our multi-tasking tech driven lives show many benefits from being outside, yet communing with nature to restore health has been around for thousands of years.
I am here to recommend a daily walk outdoors and to share my formula to return refreshed:
Be present, let nature in, take yourself back to being a child outside
Engage your senses
Listen-every day you will hear a new set of birds
Look- find today’s moments of beauty
Touch - feel the squishy wet ground underfoot, touch a tree
Smell - practice deep breathing and enjoy the air
Let your mind soak up nature, no earbuds, no phone
Just “BE” no agenda, not even adding up your steps
Here are some things I was grateful to see while walking in the park.
No matter how wet, gray or cold it is, if you are open to nature, there are always pieces of beauty to make your day. And on sunny days? Well, the sky is the limit!
Go for a walk, challenge everyone to find things they find beautiful and discuss why!
Journal about your daily walk finds - gratitude journaling only for nature.
Additional Reading
Washington Post Forget hygee, it’s time for Uitwaaien
Time Magazine Forest bathing
New York Times - How walking can build your brain
University of Utah - How a walk in nature restores attention
Jacoba, a Brookdale Park Conservancy trustee, volunteers in the park throughout the summer. With a rich Dutch heritage, she brings a unique cultural influence to her work. Transitioning from a retail career, Jacoba now focuses on learning about horticultural therapy and garden design and contributing to the BPC Education and Outreach team.