A recent class I took was talking about the yin and the yang and finding balance within all areas of your life.  This really got me thinking to what helps me feel more balanced.  One of those things is getting outside and connecting with nature.  There have been lots of studies about the effects of being in nature on people.  They have found that people are healthier, less stressed, more creative, and even more compassionate when they have a connection to nature.  I have definitely found this to be true for myself.

 

Now that the weather is getting warm I am really looking forward to spending more time outside.  However, as much as I enjoy it, I also don’t feel like doing the same things all of the time.  Going to the park is nice, but it’s also good to mix it up.  If you’re like me and like some variation, here are some ideas to keep things interesting while keeping you connected. 

1)     Star gazing.  An oldie but a goodie.  And you don’t even need a telescope for it!

2)     Bird watching. There are lots of clubs and resources around town to get you started.

3)     Volunteer. Try a community clean up, volunteering for a race, or seeing what you can do at your local community garden. 

4)     Walk a labyrinth.  There are a few outdoor ones in different parts of the city.  Find one close to you or try them all.

5)     Get active.  Pittsburgh has so many ways to be active outdoors during the summer months.  Rent a bicycle or a kayak.  Go on a hike.  Go rock climbing.  Do yoga outside.  Walk the river path.  Join a boot camp. Go to a community pool.  So many possibilities!

6)     Start a garden of your own.  If you have a yard, that’s wonderful!  You’ll have lots of space to plant.  No yard?  No problem.  Try potting plants.  Bonus: plant fruits and vegetables for fresh food all summer long.

7)     Have a photo shoot.  Find a spot you think is beautiful and start snapping.  For an added bonus bring your friends or family long and get some pictures with them in it, too!

8)     Be entertained.  Go to an outdoor festival, see a movie, or hear some music in the park.

9)     Catch the sunrise or the sunset.  Get up early to see the sunrise or take a minute in the evening to stop and enjoy the sunset.

10)   Go to the farmers market.  Not only will this get you outside, but you can pick up fresh local food at affordable rates.

 

Have kids (or friends that act like kids)?  Here are a couple additional ideas:

1)     Make a map.  Explore your yard or a park and create a map of what is there.

2)     Create a scavenger hunt.  You could use your new map as a guide or try to find different things in nature.

3)     Design nature art. Paint rocks, create a flower scrapbook, or make clay nature stamps. 

4)     Run through a sprinkler.  Though I recommend this for more than just kids.

5)     Play angry birds.  With water balloons!