the noticer
Illustrated card created by Jess Harwood. © Jess Harwood.
You like the idea of noticing things properly, but doing it entirely alone isn't quite what you're after. there's something better about sharing the moment when you spot something interesting.
Seeing or hearing birds was linked to a lift in mental wellbeing that lasted up to eight hours afterwards, in real-time mood tracking from over 1,200 people — and the effect held even for people with a diagnosis of depression. Source: Hammoud et al., 2022, Scientific Reports.
Worth Knowing:
"My mother used to take us for a walk in the evening. In the lower bushes, there'd be little birds — she'd say, 'look, look.' I can remember being so amazed at these tiny, tiny little birds."
- xname, xage, xstate
Here's how to find your own way back outdoors:
guided bird walks
Free, beginner-friendly group walks run by local bird groups, a genuinely social way to start noticing.
look to the skies
Free public stargazing nights run by local astronomy clubs, no telescope or experience needed.
fungi forays
Organised group walks looking for fungi, usually after rain in the cooler months, a different kind of noticing done together.
The research above is general, not advice about you specifically. It's here to show why time in nature is worth taking seriously, not to tell you what your body or mind needs. If you're managing a physical or mental health condition, it's worth checking with your doctor or care team before changing your routine — they know your situation, this page doesn't.