I've been thinking a lot about the folks who'll think that "social distancing" means that they have to stay inside alone (possibly with the front door duct-taped shut).

So I wanted to share one idea about a way to stay safe and also maintain your relationships right now. In a word: Nature.

Yesterday morning after too much news-instigated anxiety, I decided to get up early and go for a walk at one of my favorite regional parks. I arrived at a nearly empty parking lot, and saw no one else around as I headed into the entrance. How’s that for social distance?

An intentional act of solitude is an act of self-care, and a chance to practice being a better friend to yourself.

Breathing in the spicy sweet smell of pine and eucalyptus trees immediately released the tension in my shoulders, and I settled into a walk around the park’s central lake. I saw one other person, a man fishing near the shore, and we gave each other silent friendly waves.

In the hour I spent there, the only other people I saw were two couples that were walking their dogs (and they were really far away from me). While I was surrounded by trees that have been standing for hundreds of years, life almost felt normal again. 

This brief reprieve in nature gave me a much needed break from the anxiety-producing news cycle. 

It gave me space to reflect, to breathe, and to connect to my entire existence as a human. More relevantly, it gave me a chance to remember that I am more than just another potential case of COVID19.

According to some public health experts you can do this with a friend too, if you’re symptom-free and not in an at-risk group and practice #physicaldistancing.

It’s easy to keep multiple feet of space between you and a friend as you amble along a nature trail. I did this with my friend Jessica after work this week too. It was an absolutely joy to spend time together safely in nature, venting about the pandemic, but also talking about other things like books, relationships, jobs, and the things we observed in the woods around us. It refreshed our minds, moods, and outlooks, and it strengthened our friendship at the same time.

The benefits of being in nature are many: It reduces your risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure—illnesses that are still happening while coronavirus is going around. People who spend more time in nature report better health overall.

Sure, you’ll need to look out for poison oak/ivy, but you can’t catch COVID-19 from being surrounded by trees and fresh air. 

Loneliness puts enormous stress on the body and can reduce the strength of your immune system at a time when you need it most. To prevent the spread of illness, we just have to fight loneliness in smaller, smarter, safer ways. Thankfully, nature is also one of the most beautiful ways to do so.

If you need a break from cabin fever, head to your favorite secluded nature spot, either alone or with a friend (as long as you stay six feet away from each other ;)

Air hugs,
Kat