Despite the fact that with the arrival of the cooler months we tend to stay at home more often, a walk in nature can be a healthy touch for our body and mind.

Autumn’s fiery tones and warm hues make it the best time of year to get outside and explore. Every successful mindful walk needs: a park or woodland, comfy boots, and a mind that will wander as far as your feet.

Even though the days are drawing in earlier, and it’s tempting to lock the doors, put a log on the fire, and binge-watch some Netflix, taking time outside is the best thing you could do for your mental health. Taking a mindful nature walk is a potent tool for being truly present and bringing calm to the rest of your week. Mindfulness meditation often uses the senses to anchor into the present; something we can utilize in nature. Expect to encompass all the senses are you venture into the wild this weekend.

Sight

Next time you’re out walking follow what is visually interesting, and scout a new route based on an interesting tree line, a building in the distance, or an area you have not explored before. Let your curiosity keep you playful and in the moment. The turn of autumn is perfect for this, as familiar routes can look like new territory when painted in browns and reds.

Sound

Find somewhere quiet and stop as still as possible. Now close your eyes and take great care to focus; what can you hear? Rustling leaves, birds singing, voices, or a road in the distance. Try to appreciate every sound and the depth in what felt like the silence before you stopped.

Touch

The feel of contact on the skin; wet moss or dewy ferns and crunchy leaves. Anchoring into touch can have you experiencing temperatures and textures that bring you into present awareness. It allows you to explore small corners or woodland fully with an appreciation for the small details.

Smell

Petrichor is a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. You can smell rain still in the air and damp leaves on the ground. It’s these autumnal scents not only bring all the senses together but will guide you to a well-deserved mug of something warm and delicious to come back to for your efforts. When you do make it back to the warmth, with a log on the fire, you will do so with a new sense of calm, presence, and appreciation for all that autumn brings.