A Homebody’s Guide To Getting Out Of The House And Into Nature - by Caitlin Lydon
Image by Tyler Lastovich from Unsplash
I’ve never been a particularly outdoorsy person, but my much beloved sedentary lifestyle often leaves me anxious. In a cruel twist of fate for homebodies like myself, one of the easiest ways to alleviate anxiety is to get up and go outside. Serotonin is often nicknamed the ‘happy hormone’ for the mood-boosting effect it has on the body – and this can be triggered by spending time outdoors. I know that getting outside is better for my mental health than hiding under my duvet all day, so I’ve found some ways to make getting out of the house feel like less of a chore.
I used to think the only way to feel good outdoors was through a post-exercise endorphin release – so if I wasn’t in the mood to run, I’d end up staying indoors. But time spent in nature, regardless of what you’re doing in it, can offer therapeutic benefits that reduce stress and anxiety. So, now when I don’t feel like physically exerting myself, I find something I already enjoy doing indoors and take it out with me. For you, this could mean taking your favourite novel to a spot in a park, plugging into a good podcast and walk around your neighbourhood, or just drinking your morning coffee on the go. Whatever makes you happy in your home can make you happy outdoors too.
There is a difference between not doing something because it doesn’t make you happy, and not doing something because you’re scared. When I moved to Cornwall, the thought of wading into the freezing cold sea terrified me. But after watching brave groups of women taking the plunge and seeing how thrilled they looked as they paddled back to shore, I wanted to dive in myself - and after much toe-dipping and hand wringing, I did. It’s a stretch to call what I do in the water ‘swimming’ - I tend to just float around until I can’t feel my toes. But that doesn’t matter. I found a new way to be outdoors that I actually enjoy, which makes it that much easier to get outside regularly. Sea-based or not, I recommend dipping your toe into a new outdoors activity and seeing how it makes you feel.
It takes an average of sixty-six days for something new to become a habit. If you can make outdoors time part of your routine, it’s far more likely to stick - which is why it’s important to find a way of being outdoors you enjoy. So, whether it’s taking the leap and trying out a new hobby, or doing something you already love in a new environment, find a way to get outdoors that makes sense to you. Then let the serotonin boost do the rest.
Edited by Tillie Holmes