How getting out in nature can reset even the crappiest day or mood

TLDR: Having a crappy day? Head out to the woods or a park.?

I have two thoughts to share this morning: The first is about forest bathing, and the second is about the power of negative energy.?

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of “forest bathing,” it’s a Japanese practice (called shinrin-yoku) that delivers the therapeutic benefits of reconnecting with nature. National Geographic explains its twofold purpose: “To offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests.”

For me, forest bathing can look like an unplugged walk through the woods near my home, a nice long bike ride through Ontario’s Greenbelt, or a trip to the lakeshore. These “therapy sessions” can be as short as 10 minutes or several hours long, but they always improve my mood. My friend Terry always referred to our weekend bike excursions as her time “in the green chapel.”?

Twice this week I was reminded of how effective this reconnection can be.?

On Tuesday, I’d planned to get up early for a yoga class, but it was just one of those days when I absolutely could not get my sh*t together. Couldn’t find my sandals, couldn’t find my keys, mat unrolled as I was taking it out of the car… one of THOSE days. (I’m pretty sure there’d been a dog-related puddle to clean up in the hallway, too.)

My gym locks the studio doors when a class begins, and I entered the building at 7:16 for a 7:15 class.

So, I said hello and goodbye to the desk staff and decided on the spot that I would go for a run in the provincial park that borders my neighbourhood.?

I couldn’t have made a better decision. I’m barely running these days, thanks to a few injuries, but a walk/run under the blue sky, into the trees, and among the birds was exactly what my soul needed that morning.?

By the time I got to my desk, I was in a great mood, ready to focus and embrace whatever the day had in store.

Here’s the negative energy part, which I probably don’t need to elaborate too much for most of you.?

I know this is going to sound really “woo-woo,” but have you noticed that negative energy really is infectious - in the truest sense of the word? Someone else’s harmful, deliberately nasty words or sentiments can ruin your day, even when they’re not directed at you.

This is one of the many reasons I choose to stay off social media for the most part these days. I’ve uninstalled both Facebook and Instagram from my phone, limiting myself to Strava and LinkedIn. But because I’m involved with some community groups, I do have to go onto FB from time to time.?

Last night, I noticed a reminder about a neighbourhood effort to collect birthday cards for a local guy who has some cognitive delays. He’s non-verbal and has led a difficult life, so someone decided to organize a community effort to make sure he has a great 30th birthday. Isn’t that lovely??

So, Facebook being Facebook, someone had to ask… “Are you asking people to give a card to someone they don’t know just because they are nonverbal and have dealt with a lot?”

Well, Ms. Grinch, yes.?

And fortunately, I didn’t need to respond because no fewer than 10 very classy and restrained neighbours explained the concept of KINDNESS to this person in a truly empathetic and patient way.

But of course, I had to know more about Ms. Grinch, so I clicked over to her profile, where I was (shocker!) met with some truly hateful and upsetting memes.?

This is a person who seems to live only to bring misery and despair to others. How incredibly sad.?

I went to bed unable to shake that misery and despair, despite the fact that none of it was directed at me. But it just radiates. Negative energy can really ruin your day, even when it’s only online and even hours later.?

Fortunately, I went to bed early enough to wake up for this morning’s group beach ride. This is always one of my weekly highlights - a group of local cyclists of all levels meeting up on the shore of Lake Ontario at 6:00 AM, catching up and enjoying the sunrise during a short, easy-paced ride along the lakeshore, and then sticking around for a cup of coffee at a friendly local shop.?

The combination of like-minded, friendly people, beautiful weather, and breathtaking lake and sky filled me with peace and gratitude. I’m fully aware of how completely corny that sounds, but I swear it’s true. I was sleepy and not very talkative this morning, but my heart was full.?

I didn’t spend a ton of time outdoors growing up in NJ; as an adult living a few kilometres north of Lake Ontario, a few kilometres south of the Greenbelt, and adjacent to a provincial park, I appreciate how fortunate I am.?

I didn’t know what forest bathing was until I was already doing it, and its benefits have always been clear to me. Getting out into the woods – or spending time in any green space – can reset your mood. If I feel like my day is taking a turn for the crappy, I just head outside. (If I bring my phone, it’s only to use the Merlin and Seek apps I referenced in my last post!)?

So, next time you’re grumpy after reading someone’s political posts (which may happen often in the coming months) try it. A little shinrin-yoku can go a long way.?

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(Interested in learning about forest bathing? Here’s a helpful article from The Cleveland Clinic: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-forest-therapy-can-be-good-for-your-body-and-mind)