TIP EIGHT – PHOTO WALKS ☀️
Have you ever gone for a photo walk? 📷
Photowalking can make the task of getting out of the house more enjoyable. The main purpose is that as you walk, you take photos of the things that interest you along the way. It can be a great mindfulness exercise to ground you in the present moment. It may even get you to notice some beauty in the small, taken for granted, objects that surround us on a daily basis. We all know that connecting with nature is proven to alleviate some of the effects of depression and anxiety, and that exercise-related activities release endorphins, the feel good chemicals that help to boost our mood.
Similar to this, is the mindfulness task – Vacation Mind. It is said that one of the wonderful things about going on a vacation is the delight that comes with exploring new places. With so much newness the mind becomes bright, awake, and alive. Arguably we don’t need to be on vacation to approach our day (or a walk) like this (although it does take more conscious effort). If you don’t have a camera to be able to go for a photo walk, you can try and tap into your ‘vacation mind’ as you walk around the block. What this looks like is taking in your surroundings like a tourist, looking for the things you may have never paid any attention to before – big or small.
Whether you try the 10 minute photo walk or vacation mind walk around your neighbourhood, take note of how you feel before and after the walk. This way you can track how beneficial this sort of activity is for your mental fitness and whether or not you should add it to your coping toolkit.
Good luck & don’t forget to try and have some fun with it!