Lets Talk Outdoor Sanctuaries

The summer is finally here and today marks the first day of summer, oh what an amazing feeling, to know we will be enjoying much more vitamin D and fresh air. I feel blessed to live in such a unique coastal rainforest. The rain is responsible for the lush foliage, diverse wildlife, and abundant rainfall, we enjoy here in Campbell River, BC. The rain is needed but the cloudy soaking days can result in a dip in our moods and energy levels during the colder, darker months, often leading to feelings of sadness, low motivation, and lethargy. As I sit here on my partially closed sun room and bask in the sun that has made its way through the skylight's. I feel the warmth hit me and instantly, an whelming feeling of comfort gravitates through my body with such force. Its here that I realize what I should write about. The significance of outdoor sanctuaries. I firmly believe you can make an outdoor sanctuary no matter where you live and with any budget. Its necessary especially when battling the winter blues

Whether you live in an apartment, basement suite or house having that outdoor space to self-regulate and unwind is critical. Enjoying the outdoors can provide a calming effect on the mind, promoting relaxation and reducing feeling of stress or anger. Even boosting your creativity, improving sleep, and when in nature it can even foster a sense of connection to something larger than oneself. I am a huge gardener and for me playing in dirt can really help improve my mood and reduce incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress. They say that stirring up dirt and inhaling all of that M. vaccae goodness is what offers these improvements to our mental health. So don't just narrow your mental health design to indoors. Let Terra Nova's Healing Homes create that outdoor sanctuary you have always dreamed of or never thought to be possible.