January is a bit of a grim month, and whilst there’s a glimmer of hope with the days gradually getting longer and the first early glimpses of spring emerging from the ground, it can feel like a bit of a slog.
Instead of slumping in front of the TV binge watching box sets, now is the perfect time to make meaningful plans that will give you something positive to focus on and will galavanise you into action.
1. Learn something new about the natural world
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to be able to indetify the birds that visit your garden, the trees you walk past on your way to work or the constellations in the night sky?
Whilst learning the names of an entire genus isn’t a fast process, it’s making a start is that matters, so whatever it is, make a pledge to yourself that this year you’ll stop putting it off and you’d take steps to learn something new.
How are your tree identification skills?
2. Have a microadventure
Leave a weekend in your schedule free and isntead of planning the hell out of every spare moment you have, leave a weekend to chance. Go with the flow and do whatever you feel like at the time.
Book something last minute or pile the car with camping gear and go on a random road trip; whatever it is don’t worry too much about the fine details. Get the basics planned and make it happen!
Pack your car and take off on a microadventure!
3. Plan a night sleeping under the stars
You don’t have to go with a full-on minimalist bivvy, tent camping will do! Build a campfire with the kids, star gaze with friends or simply snuggle up outdoors with a loved one.
Camping is good for you. The enhanced connection to nature and partially re-wilding your life for even just a couple of days could leave you feeling calmer and even sleeping better, not to mention it’s fun!
Spend a night sleeping under the stars!
4. Make a pledge to cut down your use of plastic
From the blight of microbeads to the gut-wrenching sight of turtles nesting on filthy plastic strewn beaches, plastic waste is finally, big news. The governments pledge to eliminate plastic waste by 2042 is lame, so it’s up to us as consumers to do what we can to play our part.
We’ve all got used to bringing our own shopping bags with us, but how about making more informed decisions when shopping and actively making choices that see us buying fewer products wrapped in or made from plastic.
Small changes are easy too. At the chippy ask for your chips to be wrapped in paper instead of those dreadful Styrofoam containers. Buy fresh food loose, and don’t choose versions that are packaged with unnecessary plastic. Look for alternative materials whenever you can. Cut down your expensive Cappuccino habit or take a refillable flask to the gym instead of bottled water…
Even if you can only manage to cut your use by 10%, it’s a great step.
Always fancied trying a new activity? Get out there and give it a go!
5. Find your focus and meditate
Meditation is simple, but it’s not easy. The good news is the more you do it the easier it is and myriad benefits come with it. Mindfulness isn’t just a hip term overused by the media, it’s actually a hugely beneficial skill that will make you more content and allow you to find your life more meaningful.
With such incredible benefits, now’s the time to stop making excuses and take the first steps to living more mindfully. Learning to focus your mind through meditation is the ideal way to get started and could mean that you end 2018 a far happier and more centred person.
Why not learn some bushcrafting skills?
6. Become an actual Womble
Get involved with a local community group or take part with a cleanup effort taking place in an area that you like to go walking in. Even if you just do it once, an hour combing your local streets, park or woodland for rubbish is a highly satisfying thing to do.
7. Learn a nature based skill
Perhaps you’ve always fancied willow basked weaving, or having the ability to identify safe food you can forage? Perhaps you want to hone your natural navigation skills or learn any aspect of bushcraft?
There are countless ways to learn skills like this, from the humble book to wilderness and bushcrafting retreats so what are you waiting for!
Always fancied zooming down a zipwire or walking through tree tops? What are you waiting for?
8. Be daring and go for it!
If you stop and think for a couple of minutes, I bet there’s something you can think of that you’ve always wanted to try but have never got around to doing. Stop putting it off and pledge to make 2018 the year that you finally make it happen!
Whether that’s flying down a zip wire, white water rafting or kite buggying, if it’s something you’ve always fancied doing throw caution to the wind and just go for it!
Epic resources to get your started
Read
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What is it?
Great Tits feeding in my garden last year
A Blue Tit in my garden snapped last year when I took part
