Gratitude in Nature: Enhance Your Well-Being in the Great Outdoors

It's the season of gratitude, and at Atwell, we have a lot to be grateful for, including the beautiful natural surroundings. Getting outdoors is a proven way to enhance both your mental and physical health. Here are some ways to start a gratitude practice in Atwell's natural surroundings.

Begin gratitude walks.

Daily walks are not just good for your physical health. They also can reduce depression and anxiety, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. By combining walking with an intentional gratitude practice, researchers say you can improve overall health and happiness.

With Atwell’s paseo and walking trails meandering across 100 acres, you can easily start a gratitude walking practice practically right outside your door. Begin by reserving a specific time each day for your gratitude walk. As you stroll through the Atwell community, set aside other distractions and immerse yourself in the natural beauty around you. Listen to the sounds of nature, explore new paths, express gratitude verbally.

Find gratitude in the garden.

There’s something about transforming a patch of dirt into blooming flowers or fragrant herbs that exudes serenity and peacefulness. Atwell homes offer an ideal space to practice gratitude gardening. Incorporate some quiet time working in your yard as your private moments to focus on the people, places and things you are thankful for. Even express your gratitude out loud to your plants. Not only will you be more relaxed, but research has shown that plants positively respond to human conversation as well!

Mindfully meditate.

Gratitude meditation has been shown to reduce depression, improve sleep and calm anxiety. Set aside time each day for outdoor gratitude mediation. Perhaps it is early morning coffee on your Atwell patio, or a favorite spot to listen to Smith Creek that becomes your happy place for respite and reflection. As you clear your mind, think about the natural beauty surrounding you, the community of friends and family you enjoy, the things big and small for which you are grateful. You can use a gratitude journal to note at least one thing each day for which you are grateful. Consider sharing a few of the past year’s entries on Thanksgiving Day as a reminder of the year’s joyful moments and blessings