So many people are now working from home. However, the boundary between work and leisure time can become blurred. Natural breaks in the day such as a commute to work, a chat at the coffee machine or movement between the different rooms at work have often gently slipped into a slide from bed … to your home work station. So, what small changes can be introduced – and I mean small as nobody needs more jobs – to elevate tiny moments in the day. As ever, nature can help to improve our lives.
First drink of the day
- Step one: drink your morning cuppa outside. No matter what the weather is that day. If it’s raining take a brolley. If it’s sunny go barefoot. Feel the elements and take a little time to see what’s growing and what creatures are out there too. Also, choose your very favourite cup to drink from. From a fine bone china to a handmade beauty. Either way, elevate the moment and treat yourself kindly. Try a little sweetie like this from Lucy and Jane Ceramics.
Once you’re at your desk
2. Next step: Choose a window bird feeder that you can see from your desk. Ideally you need to look up from your screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds. This can be a challenge to maintain but the tiny thunk as a robin lands on your bird feeder is a gorgeous reminder to do this. I make these feeders here in my workshop at The Willower, in Nottingham. They are made from Somerset grown willow and are biodegradable and go back into the earth. Choosing one of these is a positive step to reduce plastic consumption and live in a more planet friendly way.
Place a fresh suet bird feed ball in it daily and see who arrives. And if you’re not sure what on earth a one of those is that’s landed on your bird feeder, treat yourself to a bird spotting book. Try this one:
Reasons to nip outside
3. Plant a window box.
Even if you live in the tiniest of homes there will hopefully be a window sill or outdoor space for a little container of herbs or flowers. I’d recommed planting a selection of thyme, chives, outdoor basil and parsley as good companions. Mint is a great choice. Perfect in a yoghurt dip or in your Pimms. But mint is not great at sharing, so give it its own pot.
As well as being great to add into your cooking, the window box will act as a tiny oasis for wildlife. If you’re fortunate you’ll get to see a spider spin its web, or, if your herbs flower, butterflies and hoverflies might land to collect nectar. The 2 minutes of watering and tending your window box before you head to your workspace will be a gift to yourself.
I hope these sound like tiny, manageable steps that will create a tiny nature connection in your day. There’s a lot of scary stuff going on out there in the world. Small nature connections like these help to ground us and see the tiny glimmers of hope that will sustain us .
Nature is the way. Gerry x
