Exercise is very important for our overall health and wellness. During this pandemic take time to get out of the house and enjoy nature. Take a walk around your neighborhood. If you don’t feel safe walking in your neighborhood; walk around in your yard and set outside and do chair exercises.

Going on a walk is very calming and it gives us a chance to see the beauty of nature. Times like this make us see how precious life is and how important our loved ones are to us. We are able to see and appreciate the things that are most important in our lives. It is amazing and a blessing to see the bright sunshine, the pretty blue sky, and all of the lovely flowers and trees that are in bloom now. While I am walking I can hear all the birds chirping and other peaceful sounds of nature. Notice on your walk everything you can see, hear, and smell. Being present with our surroundings gives us hope that a better day is coming. This can be very reassuring and helps decrease the stress and anxiety in our lives.

Look for other things to do that are calming and reassuring to you. Listen to music, read a book, or meditate. These are photos from my walk. Please take some time each day to take a breath and heal your mental health!

Setour A. Dillard BSN, OCN

Starr Hill Health Center