the noticer
Illustrated card created by Jess Harwood. © Jess Harwood.
You don't need to be doing much to feel like you're getting something real out of your time outside. Noticing is enough, on your own terms, at your own pace.
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:
"She looks for the tiniest insects and the smallest fungi."
- xname, speaking about her 2 year old granddaughter, from nsw
Here's how to find your own way back outdoors:
from your couch
Citizen science you can do entirely from home, analysing photos or recordings without needing to go anywhere.
on your walk
Simple things to notice and record on a walk you were already going to take, no extra trip required.
through a lens
For people who'd rather notice things through a camera than through binoculars or a checklist.
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.