Take the opportunity to meet with family and friends in the outdoors, in parks, at the beach, in the garden and enjoy an activity together. True connectedness with other people will have a much greater influence on our wellbeing, so why not use this time of year to set some dates aside to spend with your loved ones.
Connectedness is an important theme and aim of our wellbeing programmes. We believe that by connecting with people who are on a similar journey and can understand your struggles, it will help to heal and feel less alone. Many of our programmes also help the participants socialise with peer groups that help deal with social isolation and give a feeling of community and a sense of purpose. Our Down to Earth volunteers, who work on our 6 plot community allotments in Chelmsford are a wonderful example of this and with the help of The National Lottery we are able to provide this safe space to the local community on a weekly basis. If you or someone you know would like to participate in one of our gardening groups, then please follow the link below for more information.
https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/down-to-earth-community-allotments-essex/
Another way we understand connectedness at the WFUK is by combining nature with environmental education. Our education team have various programmes including Wild Schools and Green Influencers that not only teach students about the various environmental facts, but also bring them to wild green spaces to connect and immerse themselves in nature more deeply. Our goal is to inspire the next generation to love and respect the environment and for this to be carried forward into adulthood. We offer an in-depth understanding of how the outdoors can benefit mental health and wellbeing. We strive to give young people access to the environment and allow them to make their own connections with the natural world, whilst contributing to a sustainable planet. Click here to find out more. https://wildernessfoundation.org.uk/wilderness-school-visits/
A few ideas on how to connect could also include grounding. Grounding is a self-soothing tool you can use if you are having a bad day or are dealing with a lot of stress. It helps relocating your focus on the present moment, to the here and now. There are many ways you could ground yourself in nature, the easiest being standing or walking barefoot on the ground. Real contact with the ground can have a number of health benefits such as the reduction in inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, muscle damage and chronic pain. As well as making a mental health connection, being more consciously out in nature, whether it’s in your garden or a park in your local area. Why not give it a try and make a real day out of it, together with friends or family.
By Katharina Kommer
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