Sienna Tohar - week 13 - The Magic of Going Outside Daily

 Being that I’m still fully virtual, sometimes sitting in front of a computer screen for hours at a time (and I think many of us know) can be so mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically draining. Not to sound like a drama queen, but it honestly feels so monotonous at times! I sit in front of a window, so I do get to see the greenery outside, which is comforting when dealing with technology all day.

 I find that I feel like I have a clearer state of mind when I actually get to walk outside. Since work tends to be unpredictable at RHS sometimes, it’s difficult to create a set schedule once classes end. I know that when quarantine started, many people started doing daily rituals/routines like exercising from home, reading a new book every week, trying new at-home hobbies, etc. For me, I find it so refreshing to just go outside. Sometimes I sit and draw, sometimes I walk, sometimes I listen to music/podcasts, and sometimes I go to literally think/contemplate because I feel like it gives me a sense of clarity. 

Plus, I love hearing birds, the sound of wind going through tree leaves, and seeing insects like butterflies and dragonflies flutter around. It's not always quiet where I live because you can always hear cars going by, but it makes me appreciate those little moments of silence a little more.

I can’t really “decide” to go outside every day, but when given the opportunity, it just feels so nice and grounding. For instance, this might sound weird, but there’s something so refreshing about being barefoot on grass. It almost reminds me of being a child and playing around in grassy fields with friends. Additionally, I feel like we live in a world where modernity has distracted us a bit from nature through technology (though, there’s plenty out there that are made to help/enhance our natural world). It’s important to recognize how healthy it is to just go outside maybe once or twice a day. I think from now on, on days when I have less classes (and when it’s not raining outside) I’ll try to make myself go out at least once and take in the fresh air. 

I know this was a rather uneventful blog this week, but I’ve been doing nothing but work/applications lately. And even though this isn’t anything new or innovative, I thought I'd share anyway (I guess like a tiny life update)!

     Do you have any daily routines? Does stepping outside help you? Until next time!

p.s. I included a pic my backyard, one of my favorite places to be these days