How To Enjoy The Outdoors During A Pandemic

Photo Courtesy of Open Sky Wilderness

Growing up, my time spent in the outdoors helped me navigate the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood. Now, as a clinical wilderness therapist at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, I see nature’s transformational and healing power at play every day with my students. I consider the wilderness my co-therapist; an indispensable and necessary component for the work I do.

Over the past few months, we have all been spending more time at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 and comply with varying “shelter in place” or “stay at home” orders by many local and state governments. As we move towards re-opening up across the country, there is still a lot of uncertainty with how to enjoy summer activities while still limiting social interactions. One of the primary ways that many people may feel safe resuming some sense of “normal” will be spending time outdoors.

Research shows that there are many mental and physical benefits to being outdoors. Nature has a calming effect and can improve one’s creativity and problem-solving skills. Studies also show that being in contact with natural stimuli has a positive impact on our wellbeing, that exercising outdoors relieves significantly more stress than exercising indoors, and that time in nature helps to build emotional resilience.

As you begin to plan your summer adventures, think about ways you can transform low-risk, close-to-home activities into a new adventure. The Washington Trails Association gives some creative ways to do this such as discovering the details, like the types of flora and fauna near your house, or bringing binoculars on walks to catch glimpses of birds in the trees. Your neighborhood can also offer great training grounds for activities like running and biking. Even if you’re not climbing an epic mountain, this time at home offers an opportunity to get fit and ready for that future adventure. Finally, activities like setting up a tent in your backyard to camp or setting up a backyard movie theater are other creative ways to stay safe, while mixing up the normal routine of sleeping in your bed and watching tv from the couch.

With that being said, a lot of people across the country don’t have access to a backyard, forest, park or trail system close to home. Or, perhaps you’re part of a vulnerable population, are sick yourself or don’t feel safe leaving quarantine yet. There are still ways to enjoy the benefits of nature from home!   

Research has shown that nature can have a positive effect on our health, even when viewed from indoors. One study found that patients who are recovering from illness have shown improved healing times when they can view nature from their window. Hospitals around the world are embracing the idea that natural stimuli can provide important psychological benefits for patients and staff alike. Open the blinds and crack a window. Tend to your house plants. Eat lunch on the back deck or read your book on the front porch. Listen to the birds sing and spend some time gazing at the sky. Meditate in front of an open window with the sunlight pouring in or the sound of rain falling. 

There are virtual ways to enjoy, explore and learn about nature, too. Stream a nature documentary, read or listen to a book on tape about the wilderness or listen to the recorded sound of a stream or the ocean.

As we all begin to figure out what the new normal looks like, let’s remember the many positive benefits that natural stimuli have on our well-being. Everyone’s accessibility to the outdoors will look different right now; whether it’s physically outside or through an open window, the benefits are plentiful. It is during this time of new routines and decreased social interaction that we most need to attune to the wonder, detail and healing aspects of the natural world. 

Chris Blankenship is a clinical therapist at Open Sky Wilderness Therapy. The Open Sky approach transcends traditional wilderness therapy by emphasizing treatment for the whole family, not just the adolescent or young adult, and the application of evidence-based clinical modalities with innovative, well-researched holistic healing practices such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness.