Is there anything better than that first spring morning when you can finally have breakfast outside?

Here in the UK, winter can feel long and heavy, so when the days begin to stretch and the light returns, we instinctively move towards it. A sliver of sunshine and the paddling pool appears, a dry forecast and suddenly it’s a picnic day, and if we’re lucky, breakfast in the garden, tea in hand, book open, face turned to the sun, feels like a small luxury.

Outdoor living has always been part of my life, I run, swim or walk most days. The children are now used to “mum’s adventure days”, too. As a family we spend hours outside, the beach is always a favourite just playing about and adventuring. It’s not something we overthink, it’s simply how we live, and over time it’s become a cornerstone of our health and wellbeing, not just for me but for all of us. It’s why getting outside, whether it’s a short walk to school or time by the sea, feels less like something we should do for our mental health and more like something we naturally turn to.

There’s something powerful about being in blue and green spaces, tall trees, rolling hills, calm lakes, crashing waves, vast open skies, the sound of bees in the lavender, the feel of fresh air on your skin.

It’s simple, but it moves something.

And quietly, science supports this too. Just 20 minutes outside can help lower stress levels and calm the nervous system, while time near water, often referred to as blue space, has a naturally soothing effect. These blue space benefits in the UK are becoming more widely recognised, alongside the impact green spaces have on clearer thinking and improved mood. You don’t have to be doing anything extreme to feel it, just being there is often enough.

Your breathing slows. Your thoughts soften. You feel more grounded, more present.

And yet, I know it’s not always easy to get outside. We all have different natures, different energy levels, and for some of us it takes more encouragement to step out the door. Often it’s not a lack of desire, but a lack of momentum. The thought of it can feel bigger than the thing itself. Sometimes it helps to have a plan, to meet a friend, or to commit to something that gently holds you accountable. And sometimes the shift comes from making it easier, not bigger, smaller, simpler, something you can actually stick to.

I saw this so clearly last weekend. We set off on a 5km family walk, or “adventure” as we call it, to a waterfall near us, a simple out and back with a picnic halfway. The boys ran ahead, full of energy, but Florence wasn’t having any of it, foot stamping, crossed arms, the full resistance.

“I’m just not outdoors,” she exclaims.

She really didn’t want to go. But on we went. Ten minutes in, her older sister stepped in quietly with a sheet of stickers, offering one for every landmark along the way. “When we reach that rock… when we get to the gate… when we see the water…”

And something shifted.

By the time we reached the top, her jumper was covered in stickers and her face was beaming. You could see the sense of achievement written all over her. We explored, ate, paddled, climbed trees, sat in the sun, and the walk back felt easy.

It’s always that first part, isn’t it, the resistance before the reward, and that’s often the bit we need help with. That’s why micro adventures matter so much. Small, simple moments outside that feel doable, a short walk, a quick dip, a cup of tea in the garden, things that don’t require huge effort but still give you that lift.

It’s something we see time and time again at Zest Life® too. There’s always someone first up the hill or first into the water, and there’s always someone hanging back, unsure, needing a little encouragement. That’s where the beauty lies, we lift each other, gently nudge, and remind one another what’s possible.

Before long, you find yourself sitting on a tree stump with a hot drink in hand and something sweet, looking out over vast skies. You drink in the green, blue (often grey) spaces, stretching out in front of you.

And you feel it. Calm. Space. Perspective.

It’s in these moments that people begin to understand the too, that combination of movement, breath, and nature working together.

I’ve just come back from a week on a wild swimming yoga retreat in the UK, and it reminded me of this completely. When you spend that much time outside, moving, breathing, exploring, something settles. You soften, everything feels clearer, more spacious, you feel soothed. It’s the same feeling so many guests describe after a joining our wild swimming yoga retreats, where the outdoor yoga benefits are felt. That sense of being reset simply by being outside, in good company, doing simple things well.

And then you return to your busy everyday life, with commitments, and where time is not your own and slowly, that slightly ‘spiky’ feeling creeps back in.

So the real work is finding those micro moments in your day to day life. A quiet cup of tea in the garden each morning, a short walk before the day begins, a few minutes barefoot on the grass, small, repeatable habits that fit around work and family, not perfect, but very possible.

It’s not always easy, I know that, but if you can ring fence even a little time for yourself and step outside, you give yourself the chance to reset. Let nature do what it does best, soothe, restore, and bring you back to yourself.

It’s one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support our mental health, and I truly believe one day it will be prescribed.Until then, we can prescribe it for ourselves and for each other. Make a commitment this summer to embrace the outdoors, however that looks for you, it doesn’t have to be big, even a BBQ counts!

Join me, take off your shoes, step outside, and exhale.....

This summer why not explore with us? Yoga and wild swimming on Anglesey this August is now open.