Nature
Nature
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The importance of self-care for mental health!
The importance of self-care for mental health!
The Nourish and Flourish conversation guides promote physical health through nutrition and physical activity while fostering connections to mental well-being. We invite staff, mental health professionals, and facilitators who work in community-based mental health support programs to use the guides to initiate conversations using non-judgmental, trauma-informed messages, and motivational interviewing strategies. Each guide is designed to flow from a discussion about a health topic to goal setting. Individuals ideally set their own goals based on personal needs. The guides offer recommendations. The "How to Use this Guide" page has more detailed information with a brief training video.
Begin the conversation by reading the key messages
Begin the conversation by reading the key messages
May your search through nature lead you to yourself.
Get active in nature.
Enjoy nature for free.
You can use this Nature goal sheet (pdf) to help guide the discussion.
Share important information about nature
Share important information about nature
You might have heard or seen that being in nature is good for you. The place we are in can make us feel better and healthier. Being in nature can help us feel less stressed and can lower our blood pressure and heart rate. To make spending time outside a habit, pick something you like to do. You can walk, garden, meditate, or even read a book outside. Plus, these activities are often free!
Choose an open-ended question to reflect on nature
Choose an open-ended question to reflect on nature
Choose an open-ended conversation question.
What activities do you enjoy doing outside?
How do you feel when you spend time in nature? What emotions come to mind?
What is a new outdoor activity that you would like to try?
Come up with ideas for a specific goal
Come up with ideas for a specific goal
Select a change (ideally goals come from the person, these are just ideas):
Select a change (ideally goals come from the person, these are just ideas):
Step outside at least a few minutes each day
Take your usual activity outside (taking pictures, journaling, reading, bird watching)
Visit a park or hiking trail to immerse yourself in nature
Ideas for outdoor activities:
Ideas for outdoor activities:
Gardening - Plant flowers, vegetables, or just water your plants.
Picnicking - Have a meal outside with your family or friends.
Drawing or Painting - Create art inspired by the nature around you.
Playing with Pets - Take your dog for a walk or play fetch.
Meditating or Doing Yoga - Find a quiet spot to relax and stretch.
Help make a plan (be specific -- time, day, action -- and start small):
Help make a plan (be specific -- time, day, action -- and start small):
I will relax for 10 minutes outside this weekend.
I will go for a 5-minute walk in my neighborhood tonight.
Assess confidence in meeting the goal
Assess confidence in meeting the goal
On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you can meet your plan?
Close with quotes from what others said about this topic
Close with quotes from what others said about this topic
"Going to a park near me is a place to relax and de-stress. It’s a healthy place for mental health because of all of its distractions, like the greenery, walking, and biking paths. Plus, it’s affordable!"
"I love to be out in nature and I love going to state parks...I like thinking about goals for mental health, food, and exercise as pathways. There are so many different pathways to health...Everybody’s path is different. You can pick where to start and then can change to a different approach."
There are so many different pathways to health . . . . Everybody’s path is different. You can pick where to start and then can change to a different approach.
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