Step Outside and Feel Alive Again
Hi dear friends,
I hope to get you outside enjoying the sun while we have it. Am I succeeding? We all need to get out and enjoy the benefits of the earth the Lord has provided.
Every time I read the book of Genesis and the creation story, I am filled with a profound sense of what surrounds us and renewed gratitude that God thought it necessary for us to be added to the splendor of his created world—a world he created by speaking.
What are you speaking into your life? What are you creating with your words?
Still not sure on how to spend your summer? Here are Summer Activities to Boost your Mental Health.
Summer is here, and with it comes longer days, brighter skies, and the perfect chance to reconnect with something we often overlook in our busy lives: the outdoors.
In our digital, always-on world, it’s easy to forget the healing power of nature. But sometimes, the simplest solution to burnout, stress, or mental fog isn’t another productivity hack—it’s just stepping outside.
I am guilty of getting stuck in a cycle of home, work, and gym, and all these mean I spend a lot of time indoors. So a few years ago, I carefully curated an outdoor space to encourage me to spend more time outside,e and it has worked.
What will it take for you?
In this post, we’ll explore how outdoor activities can rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul, and why this summer might be your best opportunity yet to reset and refuel.
Nature: The Original Wellness Coach
There’s something powerful about being outdoors that no screen, app, or supplement can fully replace. Time spent in nature is known to:
- Reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels
- Lower blood pressure and heart rate
- Improve sleep and concentration
- Boost creativity and emotional clarity
When you combine the benefits of movement with the healing atmosphere of the outdoors, you unlock a kind of natural therapy that’s free, accessible, and incredibly effective.
Just being outside, sitting on the grass, surrounded by trees or by the beach or in your local park, it’s the same. All of a sudden, you breathe in deeper and you have space in your head to think…. Endless benefits.
Hit the Refresh Button
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or someone just starting to explore the outdoors, these activities can help reset your system and leave you feeling deeply nourished:
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1. Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku)
This isn’t hiking or exercising—just being.
Walk slowly in a park or woodland area. Breathe deeply. Observe everything—the leaves, the light, the silence.
Mental reset: Forest bathing helps calm your nervous system and enhance mindfulness. It is one of my favourite mindful activities; it just silences the noise in my head. Sometimes I just find a spot to sit and observe the fauna and flora.
2. Outdoor exercise or stretching
Roll out your mat in your backyard, rooftop, or by the beach and let your body move gently under the sun. Some local parks have outdoor gyms, and if you can afford it you can install some outdoor gym equipment or playground equipment in your personal garden.
Mental reset: The combination of movement, breath, and fresh air relieves anxiety and boosts emotional balance.
3. Picnic with Friends (or Yourself!)
Prepare something simple. Find a quiet spot under a tree. Bring a book, a journal, or just your thoughts. My preference is just to take what we have at home, all the stuff we would usually eat, grab a mat, games, books, and a ball, and head out.
Mental reset: Being outside while enjoying food or conversation nurtures both the body and relationships. The conversations are usually so wholesome, invite a close friend or family member too.
4. Sunrise or Sunset Walks
Start or end your day with a slow walk during golden hour. Some families enjoy an evening walk after dinner, and I hope I can achieve this one day. It’s such a good way to connect, digest dinner, and get some good vibes for a good night’s rest.
Mental reset: These sacred times of the day offer peace, perspective, and often, inspiration.
5. Swimming in Natural Waters
A dip in a lake, river, or ocean is a sensory experience like no other. Cold water also improves circulation and boosts your mood. This one is on you. Open water swimming is a goal I am still working on, to be honest. I have met people who swear by it and would do anything to get in.
Mental reset: Water immersion can soothe anxiety, release endorphins, and help your mind feel lighter.
6. Gardening or Plant Care
Even tending to a small balcony garden or potted plant is an act of grounding. This is my jam, all day I can garden, there is a vibe, zen and flow I reach when I have my hands on sand.
Mental reset: Gardening has been shown to reduce depression and improve focus—plus, it’s deeply satisfying.
7. Unplugged Outdoor Journaling
Leave the tech behind. Sit somewhere quiet and let your thoughts flow. Write about what you see, feel, or simply let your mind wander.
Mental reset: Journaling outdoors brings clarity, gratitude, and helps release mental clutter.
But What If You Don’t Have “Access to Nature”?
You don’t need a forest to benefit from being outside. Here are a few simple alternatives:
- Take lunch breaks outside your office building. Just sit outside or walk
- Walk barefoot on grass at a nearby park. Our feet need a break from conforming to those shoes all day. Ground yourself physically by connecting to the earth.
- Sit near a window with the breeze flowing in. Air your space, breathe deeply.
- Watch the clouds from your balcony or rooftop. See if you can identify stars and the moon.
- Volunteer for outdoor cleanups or community, school events.
Final Thoughts: Reconnect to Recharge
Nature doesn’t rush, but everything gets done.
This summer, resist the pressure to always be productive. Instead, choose to be present. Let the sun kiss your skin, let the breeze soothe your mind, and let the quiet outdoors remind you of your wholeness.
Sometimes the best way to find yourself again is to lose yourself in the open sky.
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What outdoor activity helps you feel most alive and at peace?
Drop it in the comments or tag us in your next nature photo using #SummerOfWellness.
Stay grounded, and step into the light.
Until next time, stay authentic.
Stay resilient, and continue to honour your needs.
Live wholeheartedly,
Amaka
