Ideas for Connecting with Nature in the Winter Months
Connecting with the natural world is a vital part of a healthy life. Spending time outdoors can reduce stress, enhance immune function, bring a sense of purpose, and reduce feelings of isolation. In the winter months, it can be hard to engage with nature as we stay indoors and yet, it is as important as ever. Our horticultural therapist, Charis Hill, gave us some recommendations to connect with nature in these cold and rainy winter months. These ideas work for all ages and can be adapted for use with residents of long-term care facilities.
Mindfulness in nature
The Pacific Northwest is graced with beauty all year round. Mindfully spend time in nature that is accessible to you, whether a park, trail, street, patio, or even from your window. (Check out our article on accessible hikes in the Portland area). Notice what life remains: evergreens, moss, ferns, and winter blooms like sarcococca or winter camellias. Look for details and differences between the plants: shapes, colors, sizes. Notice signs of the changing seasons. What flowers are starting to bud? Is there new growth? Look for animals and insects. When possible, engage your other senses for an immersive experience. Listen for bird calls or the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. Smell-roses aren’t the only plant with a smell-grasses, herbs, flowers, trees. Touch plants around you. Feel the sun, shade, or breeze on your skin. Most importantly, take deep breaths and direct your attention outwards.
Natural arts and crafts
The natural world gives in abundance. From baskets to jewelry to wall hangings, people across cultures and history use natural items for art and function. For those new to plant crafts, try a nature collage with plant materials in your yard or neighborhood. In the winter season, collect items like pine cones, evergreen branches, and stones. The process of collecting helps you mindfully get in touch with the season and your surrounding area. Put a piece of paper or cloth down on a table. Start from the center and arrange your plant materials in circles that extend outwards. You can leave your creation on the table for a few days, or toss the materials back outside when you’ve finished.
If you can’t or don’t want to forage materials, consider creating a poem or drawing based on nature around you (or online) instead. Or, for plant crafts like terrariums and pressed flower stationary, check out Artemisia’s virtual workshops or Gather & Make, a book by Earthtones’ friend Genevieve Layman.
Cook a seasonal meal
Each season comes with its own fruits and vegetables. Aligning your diet with the seasons means you’ll eat fresher and tastier food, feel physically nourished, and have the opportunity to support your local farms. In the winter, make meals that include winter squash, sweet potatoes, parsnips, kale and other leafy greens, brussel sprouts, onions, and carrots. The People’s Co-op releases seasonal recipes each month, with dishes like collard greens with spiced chickpeas and a radicchio and celeriac salad. If nothing else-the winter is perfect for a hearty stew, which are often forgiving and can include whatever seasonal vegetables you have in your refrigerator.
Watch a nature series
With incredible photo technology, documentaries can help you feel closer to nature while staying inside (and safe from predators). Learn more about animals, plants, the natural world, and environmental issues affecting our world with some of these stunning shows and films: Our Planet (Netflix), Planet Earth II (Amazon), Tiny World (AppleTV), & America’s National Parks (Disney+). If you don’t have streaming, most of these have free episodes to watch on YouTube.
Support an environmental cause
This won’t have the same health benefits as directly connecting with nature, but is important in providing a sense of responsibility and hope while sustaining the health of our ecosystems. You can think about how you can affect change on a small, individual level or on a macro, policy level. Each person has their own role and even small actions can have an impact. You might:
Plant a tree or pollinator garden
Find ways to reduce, reuse and recycle better in your own life
Write letters or sign petitions for a cause you support
Volunteer-even if you can’t go during quarantine, start the application process and find out how to get involved
Support a worthwhile organization with a financial or item donation
Spread awareness—even if that is just calling a friend