Treat yourself to Friluftsliv for the holidays!
Before we get too tangled up in the holidays, let’s talk about frilusftsliv. What the heck is friluftsliv? Sounds like a Dutch Christmas treat from my son-in-law Janardan. Actually, it’s something even more delicious!
Friluftsliv is what people in Nordic countries call “fresh-air life.” It’s the common practice of getting outdoors — no matter the time of year, no matter the time of day — for fresh air and exposure to nature. Now here in Rhode Island, we’re all about getting outside. The beach, the lakes, the trails in RI are all exceptional! Oh yeah, all of us get outside…in the summer. Okay, a number of us also get outside in the early Fall and late Spring. But during the holiday season? Maybe not so much. But when I talk about fresh-air living, I’m talking about a commitment to getting outside in all kinds of weather, all year round.
So why am I so hyped up about getting outside? Improved well-being, especially during the stress of the holidays. Physical, mental and spiritual well-being is greatly enhanced by getting outdoors and connecting with nature.
Ask Peter James, associate professor at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Population Medicine and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. “We need to incorporate nature into our everyday lives,” says Peter. “Many people think about nature as a perk or an amenity. However, nature is a right and a necessity to us as human beings.”
Ask my friend Mary Jane Sorrentino, a local certified nature & forest therapy guide. She leads folks in forest bathing, a gentle immersion-in-nature experience known to improve sleep patterns while reducing depression, anxiety, anger and fatigue.
Ask your local empowerment coach (that’s me) about the spiritual benefits of getting outdoors. From clearing the mind to being in the present moment to reminding us of who we are in relation to the rest of creation, nature is a sure-fire way to enhance your mindfulness and lift your spirits. Personally, when I gaze up at a dark sky full of bright stars, I can feel my heart open up as I connect to the vast, awesome beauty of nature.
Ask yourself if you’re going from sitting indoors at a desk to sitting inside of a car to sitting in front of the tv at home with little more than a few breaths of fresh air on any given day. Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit here, but many of us get less fresh air during the holidays, let alone enough nature-time in the colder months — and we feel the effects of it.
So get outside! Grab yourself a healthy dose of friluftsliv — and not just on those “unseasonably” warm days. Plan a walk along the beach or a hike along a trail or just sit on your front step breathing in the fresh air and listening to the songbirds. That’s a way to really treat yourself as you gear up for the holidays!
Join me this Thursday evening, Nov 16th, from 6:30 - 8:00 PM as I lead a Night Hike here in southern RI. Contact me today for meet-up details. Flashlights welcome.
