Well, we did get about five or six inches of snow on Saturday but with the temperatures in the 50's and 60's today, most of it is already gone. The good news is that the temperatures for the next ten days are forecast to be around 60 degrees...spring has sprung! I hope...
We begin a new focus for the week. I like to think of it as 'A walk in the woods' but it's really nature. And the benefits of being in nature are astounding. Really, walking in nature decreases stress. Yes, walking does decrease stress and helps with blood pressure, but walking in the woods or a natural setting has an even larger impact on you.
Several studies have shown that walking in nature not only decreases stress, it also increases calm. You might think that reducing stress will automatically increase calm and it does make sense, but actually walking in a natural setting, again, has an even greater effect.
Of course, for the above results to happen as you take a walk in a natural setting you need to leave your phone alone, except for specific activities like taking a picture or finding out where you are! (If you have phone service, that is!!!)
So, this week spend some time each day in a natural setting. If a walk around the block doesn't feel too natural, find a park, or a place to hike in the woods. And if you are looking for a place to walk, there's an app for that! The one I like is called All Trails (and it's free). It will show you trails close by, the difficulty, if they are pet friendly, if the scenery is great, etc., etc., etc.
Get used to taking a walk in nature and add it to your weekly schedule. Think of it as a mini-vacation from 'everything'. A chance to recharge and renew and relax.
I bet you can figure out that the craft suggestion for today is a nature journal. But really, this type of journaling (even entering only weekly) can help you to remember your walk, what you see, how you felt, etc.
A great place to check out nature journaling for the whole family is John Muir Laws at (https://johnmuirlaws.com/). And a search of Nature Journaling on YouTube will give you lots of places to visit for ideas.
Talk with you tomorrow...