As the weather begins to warm up, spending time outdoors and connecting with nature can strongly benefit your mental health. Getting fresh air, natural light, and spending time in open green spaces can help to increase happiness, boost your mood, and improve emotional balance and mental clarity. Some ways that you can practice connecting with nature are:
- Taking a walk around a park
- Listening to nature sounds outside, such as birdsong or the waves on the lake
- Watching animals, notice what the squirrels, birds, and bunnies scurry
- Watching the clouds, see what shapes you can notice
The Milwaukee area is full of such great outdoor spaces and parks. Some outdoor spaces include:
- Atwater Park (Shorewood)
- Lake Park (Upper East Side)
- Urban Ecology Center (Upper East Side)
- Veterans Park (Downtown)
- Lakeshore State Park (Downtown)
- Grant Park (South Milwaukee)
For more information on Milwaukee Parks & Trails, visit Milwaukee County Parks
If you feel like getting outside or taking a break, grab a pal or come solo, and join us for a Mindful Walk on Friday, April 11th, from 11 a.m. to noon!
Visit the SHAW events page to sign up!
Zoe (she/her)
Peer Health Educator