Mental Health Boosting Spring Activities For You And Your Loved One

Introduction

As we see the winter season slowly fade away, we witness the outside come to life again. Spring’s arrival brings with it the warmer weather (hopefully), longer days and blossoming flowers for us to enjoy each day. For older individuals it is a time to get involved in activities that increase social interaction, up their physical fitness and can boost their happiness and mental health. There are some ideas that can be enjoyed over the Easter holidays with your family too!

Gardening

Gardening is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, it can not only boost your mood but also help improve cognitive function. It provides a fabulous opportunity for you to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, engaging in physical activity whilst caring and maintaining the precious wildlife in your garden. You can start in your own front or back garden or participate in a community garden in your local area and meet new people. If you are more of a produce gardener or don't have a garden, check with your local council for allotment opportunities or maybe a family member would like your help in their garden.

If you would like more information on gardening in older age, please see our previous post The Benefits of Gardening in Your Golden Years where we dive into all the advantages that can be gained from getting your sleeves and knees stained green.

Walking

Walking outside in the fresh air gives you valuable alone time to process events, reducing stress and worry, it can also provide you with a chance to catch up with friends and family members whilst enjoying your local surroundings. You don’t need to stick to your own neighbourhood for walks, though you can for your regular daily walks for exercise. For a weekly Sunday outing with loved ones why not look for nature reserves or parks a short drive or bus ride away and try somewhere new each week. The National Trust and English Heritage have a range of places to visit such as halls, gardens and historical landmarks to see and walk around so you can also learn something new.

Outdoor Games 

If the weather permits, get the grandkids, friends or neighbours round for a game of French boules, an easy game that consists of 4 different coloured sets of two balls and a small jack, where you try and get your ball as close to the jack as possible, this game is widely available to purchase and easily transportable so you can even take it to the seaside, the balls are light enough to carry but heavy enough that the pesky British wind wont blow them away and have an effect on your game! There are a wide range of garden games available on amazon, a game of ring toss is under £10 simply search for garden games.

Picnics

Picnics are a great way to immerse yourself in the outdoors whilst socialising with friends and loved ones. You can prepare and indulge in healthy finger food like sandwiches and vegetable sticks with dips, bring a nice big blanket with you and enjoy the scenery. Plant your blanket next to a lake, watch the birds frolic in the water and enjoy the company. Sometimes just people watching is an enjoyable experience that can take your mind off of everyday stresses and worries. Nature reserves and parks often have picnic benches and tables so even if you have some mobility issues you can still enjoy a day at the park with a pleasant picnic for lunch. 

Bird Watching

Embark on a hidden world of the feathery wildlife in your own garden. Bird watching is an enjoyable pastime that is inexpensive which can be done in your garden, countryside or park, anywhere you can explore nature. Get yourself a bird book and tick off all the different types in your area.  If bird watching isn’t your cup of tea, then you can make a bird house or a bird feeder and place them in your garden then you will get regular visits from the same birds returning to your garden like Magpies and Jackdaws. Hearing the happy chirps of birds is known to lift moods.

Conclusion

In conclusion, spring is the perfect time to start getting outdoors more and to engage in the activities that help to promote mental health. Gardening, walking, lawn games, picnics and bird watching are all great ways to remain active, stay social and boost mental health. Make sure to choose activities that you enjoy, that are also appropriate for your level of physical ability. What are you planning to do this spring time?