Friluftsliv - Free Air Life
Another Lockdown has meant another toll on the mental health of a nation, well lets be honest the mental health of the world! We are in a unique place where everyone is experiencing hardships due to the same cause and this is a cause that we have little to no control over. Whether you are suffering from a loss due to covid-19, depression, anxiety, fears about your health, suffering from covid-19 or long covid, struggling with the isolation or confinement, dealing with a dangerous or stressful home life or worrying about finances, we all have something that is affecting our mental health.
Not only are we being hugely affected by this situation but the nature of the pandemic means that many of us are struggling to do the usual things that would help us to feel better and would provide us with that much needed self care. As we search for ways to help right now, many of us have either come across or heard about this concept “Friluftsliv”.
Frilufstsliv originates from the work of a 19th century Playwrite Henrik Ibsen, but the Danes, Finns and Swedes have come to regard it as an essential part of their lifestyle. The concept is that our mental health and general wellbeing can be changed by having experiences and connection in the outdoors, fresh air and being in nature. This is supported by the theory of ART (Attentional restoration theory) This theory claims that those of us living in Urban environments are constantly bombarded with multiple stimuli and that our brain is trying to process a lot of information. In contrast in nature we have a sense of relief, with fewer stimuli and an ability to focus on things that we connect with pleasant feelings, feelings of calm or even that sense of escape.
But what about Lockdown?
This does not mean being in the middle of a national park or on a secluded hill top (although this would usually be a nice option) but can be time in a garden, a walk somewhere quiet or even taking a trip to the local park. If you try to fit small outdoor activities in regularly not only are you perhaps giving your brain a break but you also have the feeling of getting out of the sameness of confinement, an escape from the same four walls.
So let’s try to step outside of those doors a little more, try and add a little variety in to what we do when we do brave the outside, and make an effort to appreciate the feeling that comes from paying attention to nature.
Using mindfulness can be useful , think about what you can smell, what you can see, how it feels to be outside, whether it is cold or feels warm, whether there is sun on your face or rain dropping on your umbrella.
Take a look at the following articles for more tips
https://www.calmmoment.com/escaping/learn-to-love-the-outdoors-the-scandinavian-way-with-friluftsliv/
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20171211-friluftsliv-the-nordic-concept-of-getting-outdoors
Anna - EWG