Is It Time To Get Back Into Nature?

There is no doubt that the last 12 months have been a challenging time for us all. Restrictions to our freedom to travel to destinations near and far, the opportunity to visit our friends and family and the chance to enjoy many of the hobbies and pastimes we are so used to do free from any form of obstacles have been temporarily taken away from us.

With that said, these difficult times have effectively taken their toll on our overall mental health and well-being, our level of activity indulgence, and the chance to be socially active with others outside of our immediate social circle.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

A few months ago, and during the middle of a Global Pandemic, it might not have felt like we had a way out. Still, with the introduction of a widespread vaccine and society finally doing as they are told by following the rules sensibly on a general basis, the situation appears to be improving little by little.

Over the next few months, the Lockdown restrictions are slowly starting to lift, and with the roadmap to recovery looking like it is firmly in place, improvements to our world are beginning to show.

Positively looking at things, I suppose it was all just a matter of time when things would return to normal. Still, the long, uncertain wait has led to some tricky times regarding our overall health, personal financial situations and general well-being. It has also highlighted our needs and what we need to do to counteract these difficulties by stimulating many positive solutions in our lives.

Finding Motivation In Others

Finding motivation in others is very inspiring, and often, we look towards others to motivate ourselves to do something new and unique.

Some individuals are always in the news talking about and sharing words on the challenges they undertake. Others have used their imagination and creativity to go that little bit further to work through these difficulties and challenging times by adding an inventive spin to their outdoor adventures.

Sean Conway (adventurer) continues to be a fantastic source of inspiration and someone who not only thrives on an adventure but continually loves to think out of the box by committing to something that little bit different and unique.

At the start of the new year, in January. Sean Conway took on a new and exciting challenge of running 496 km in a month by running 1km on the 1st day, then on the 2nd, 2km and so on. He would carry on, and by the end of January, he would end with a 31km run. Add that all together, and you run a total of 496km in a month.

It was quite an achievement and a thoroughly motivating undertaking. As this January 496 - SEAN CONWAY challenge shows, together with the video, it wasn't easy but hugely rewarding in so many different ways.

Of course, this is only one example of many other adventurers out there who did something adventurous, but as we are not all adventurers or have the means to be that way. It should not, however, stop us from setting ourselves achievable goals. Being realistic about what you can or cannot do is vitally important for you to consider before you start. However, it should never become an obstacle for things you want to achieve or improve your well-being's overall quality.

Please find out more about Sean Conway and his adventures here.

Back To Nature

Once lockdown is finally lifted, and the vaccine full rolled out, I feel it is essential to slowly rebuild our lives and rejuvenate ourselves in the natural world.

There is no doubt in my mind that the natural world will help us all recover and moving into the future; it will become an integral part of our lives in years to come.

An abundance of fresh air and the freedom to roam will provide the answers we are looking for and hopefully lead us to bigger and better things. Spending our time outside can naturally do so much to reignite our inner soul and the many elements that have affected people's general well-being, physical health, and mental health over the last year or so.

As mentioned in my previous blogs, I continually see the outdoors' benefits because I follow my instincts and spend most of my time outdoors. Therefore I can see and experience those benefits firsthand.

Spending time outdoors makes me feel good; it develops regular routines, helps regulate my mood and allows me to enjoy many of the pastimes I love, like cycling daily, hiking and running.

Immersing yourself in the fresh air and finding glorious natural surroundings can lead to many positives in our daily lives. They can offer a welcome break away from the hectic modern routines we frequently find ourselves doing every day.

Going back out into nature will become imperative for us to rebuild the world we have lost and build towards our new future. I feel the outdoors will become more popular than ever before. People begin finding solutions to the recent difficulties and find satisfaction in a new hobby, sport or travels to new destinations.

By doing this, I only hope that people continue to follow the rules about distancing and respect the countryside code. A break away from the natural world has allowed nature to rejuvenate itself, but it shouldn't mean that we all go crazy and forget how to appreciate these fantastic spaces. As a result, it is essential to enjoy nature and respect it for us all to want it continually. Follow the rules already set out to adhere to and make the most of this precious experience.

Over the last few weeks, many natural areas around the UK and the world, like the Peak District and Scotland, to name just a few, have started to ramp up their tourism and are ready to invite people back to appreciate the area.

In doing so, I hope that people will continue to see the value of nature and how it will benefit their daily lives. Enjoy the simple things like going for a walk, cycling or running along an outdoor trail will again become hugely appealing.

Finding 'óur natural space' is very important and ensuring we promote this to others is valuable, but we must respect it and allow it to flourish for others to get outdoors and enjoy.

Hopefully, getting back out into nature will allow us all to finally clear our heads and regulate our minds, develop a greater awareness of possessing positive thoughts and building on a positive mindset that will enable us to move forward in our lives, productively and positively, away from all the recent troubles and disruptions of the COVID year.

Good luck and Do More of What Makes You Happy and get outside and back to nature.