Three easy outdoor ideas to help your family be more mindful

Three easy outdoor ideas to help your family be more mindful

Winfields Outdoors  are on a mission to show everyone the many positive benefits of heading out into the great outdoors on a hike. The ‘Walk and Talk’ campaign is a fantastic initiative to encourage people to come together, get outside and embrace the benefits to our physical and mental well being. I’ve long been a fan of spending time outdoors to boost my health, and now I have a family and more pressures in my life, it’s more important than ever.

Being outdoors provides the perfect backdrop for me to relax and recharge

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s been a busy start to the year for us as a family, and I have felt my stress levels rising as more and more little things begin to accumulate. Being outdoors with my family has always been a brilliant way to help us all enjoy quality time together and relax. For me, being outdoors is a form of meditation, a time to encourage mindfulness.  For me, this means that I am free from the distractions of my everyday life and can focus on one thing at a time. It’s really important to realise that we can’t always do everything, by walking and being outdoors I can leave all my baggage behind for a little while and concentrate on the here and now.

An important part of mindfulness is reconnecting with our bodies and the sensations they experience. This means waking up to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the present moment…It’s about allowing ourselves to see the present moment clearly. When we do that, it can positively change the way we see ourselves and our lives. (Professor Mark Williams, former director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre)

In order to look after myself better and to make sure that the whole family benefits as much as possible from our outdoor time, here are three ways to easily encourage mindfulness while out walking.

Enjoy some quiet time

It doesn’t have to be for the whole duration of your hike, but a little quiet time is a great way to encourage reflection and a sense of calm. As you walk along, it’s easier to focus on the present moment if you are silent. I also find that when I’m walking I take more notice of the small details, like different birdsong or spotting wild flowers. All the little things that you don’t see when you’re rushing by, eager to tick off another task on your to-do list. You can also focus on taking deep breaths, which I find is really relaxing and a good way to keep my brain from wandering.

Use all of your senses

Going for a walk outdoors is not just physical exercise, but a way to engage with your surroundings and get all of your senses in tune with your environment. This is a tip I picked up from a couple of sessions at Forest School, and it’s very easy to do with all ages. There are many easy ideas you can put into practice here, for example, with younger children get them to use their eyes by looking for specific things, for example colours or leaves. You can also apply this principle to different textures to encourage the use of touch and find flowers and plants to smell. If you’re knowledgeable enough, you might even be able to forage and find things to taste.

A simple scavenger hunt or nature trail can be adapted for all ages and is a great way to engage with nature

Make sure the whole family are listening to what’s around them, this is a great way to get everyone noticing the small details that get overlooked.

Enjoy the view

Even on short walks, take a few minutes to have a break and enjoy the view. Talk about what you can see, focus in on the small details and really take it in. Also think about what you can hear and smell. You can ask questions to get everyone thinking about what they’re looking at, both near and far away. You can even lie down and watch the clouds for another perspective, and a great way to immerse yourself in your surroundings.

Being still is important, as it allows your surroundings to come to you.

I love the feeling of being still and being fully engaged in the present moment. Even if you regularly go back to the same spot, the view is always different.

I often find that after a walk I am in a much better frame of mind and can then discuss or tackle any issues in a much more calm and objective way. As we head on into 2018, with a house move and a growing family on the horizon, I’m going to be relying on my outdoor time to keep me feeling positive.

These are just a few ways that I’ve found useful to encourage my family to be more mindful when outdoors. Do you have any ideas that have worked for you?

This post is written in collaboration with the Winfields Walk and Talk campaign.

 

 

 

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Comments

  • Emma Hip2trek Emma Hip2trek February 28, at 12:23

    This sounds like such a great campaign. I’m in complete agreement that getting outside is beneficial for your physical and mental wellbeing. Fingers crossed for some better weather to cloud watch with the kids, I’m sure they would love that. #AdventureCalling

    Reply
  • Ashley Beolens Ashley Beolens February 28, at 13:30

    Getting outside is so important for mental health I honestly struggle if I have to spend a week without getting out there. #Adventurecalling

    Reply
  • Jonny (daisythebus) Jonny (daisythebus) February 28, at 20:22

    You write with such clarity and conviction; I agree with every single word, and this – precisely – is why I love getting outdoors and enjoying nature. Beautiful post for #AdventureCalling – thanks!

    Reply
  • Stephanie Lane Stephanie Lane March 01, at 12:51

    My middle son has ADHD. We find that after weekends that we spend camping or hiking, the following week is easier and he is better able to concentrate. Sometimes just a short fishing trip to the park will help settle him. #adventurecalling

    Reply
  • Kids of the Wild Kids of the Wild March 01, at 22:02

    I love the idea of using all your senses outdoors. Getting outside is such a major boost to everyone’s wellbeing, this sounds like a great campaign by Winfields. Must read more. #AdventureCalling

    Reply
  • Squaredawaydad Squaredawaydad March 06, at 11:36

    Getting outside and being in the moment is awesome. I love walks that are about the journey rather than just getting to the destination. Not sure I can get my kids to be still and silent though….

    Reply
  • Malin Malin March 06, at 18:14

    Lovely post, with really good suggestions on how to make sure you actually experience the outdoors and not just plough through it, while perhaps still worrying about the everyday stresses of life x
    #AdventureCalling

    Reply
  • Getting outside is our family’s way of unplugging and letting go of the stress of every day life. I don’t know of any better way to reconnect as a family. I only find it frustrating when we run short on time and have to forgo the sitting still part of the outing.
    #Adventurecalling

    Reply
  • Life Above the Treeline Life Above the Treeline March 08, at 20:08

    Mindfulness is key. Getting outside is a great way to practice that skill.

    #AdventureCalling

    Reply
  • Tracy Albiero Tracy Albiero March 10, at 00:04

    I appreciate the need to be in nature. I too feel so relaxed. Just the peace you feel. #adventrueon

    Reply
  • It is such a great thing to get outdoors with the family. One that we still struggle with from time to time. This sounds like a great campaign to be involved in #adventurecalling

    Reply
  • David - Potty Adventures David - Potty Adventures March 13, at 11:41

    Great post and great advice as always Lauren. I’m pretty new to mindfulness but it’s definitely that resonates me very strongly. As you say, the outdoors plays a crucial role in our ability to escape and unwind. I love your tip about sitting still to take in your surroundings. #adventurecalling

    Reply
  • Helena Helena March 13, at 13:43

    You make me want to get outside again and embrace the outdoors. It is certainly beneficial for our health and wellbeing. #adventurecalling

    Reply

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