Happy New Year!
January can be a tough time of year for many. I often struggle around this period, the lack of daylight, shorter days and colder nights gives me little motivation to get into the garden, meaning my mental health often takes a tumble.
It has taken me a while, but what I have discovered is to learn to accept that my mental health won't always be great (winter is often when it’s the worst) but that is ok. In doing this I am prepared for the ups and downs and don't beat myself up for feeling the way I do. I have an arsenal of tools, strategies stored in my brain that I can implement when I need to in order for me to get back on track. One of the most powerful is what I call ‘quick wins’, which are really short, achievable gardening jobs or tasks that you can do in five, ten or fifteen minutes, to make yourself feel better.
My quick wins came about during the pandemic, when I needed a ‘pick me up’ and couldn't face a whole day of gardening outside, especially in the winter. It’s about focusing on the here and now, creating distraction and not piling on the pressure, which can be super helpful to call upon in the moments when you need it the most. Taking notice of the natural world around us is one of the NHS five steps to wellbeing and can improve your mental wellbeing, helping you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
One brilliant way of achieving this is by watching the wildlife that you share your garden or outdoor space with and now is a brilliant time to do that. Every year the RSPB holds a ‘Big Garden Birdwatch’ which encourages as many of us as possible to count the number of each bird species we see at any one time. This is a great opportunity to notice how your outdoor space is a vital habitat for wildlife and it’s fun to watch and identify birds you never even knew existed.
All you need is a notepad, pen and maybe a pair of binoculars. You should also make sure that you have replenished your bird tables and feeders with a range of bird food and make sure it’s fresh! To encourage the biggest range of birds into your garden you should ensure you have different types of food and seeds, for example Sunflower seeds are popular with finches, robins and blackbirds (remember blackbirds can’t use feeders so ground feeders are essential). Niger seeds are popular with goldfinches. Mealworms are loved by house sparrows and starlings. Not only is watching the birds a soothing and calming activity (which you can also do from the warmth of your home) but it has an important function too. It helps build up a picture of how our birds are fairing all around the UK.
The Big Garden Birdwatch is taking place between the 26th and 28th January To find out more please visit:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch
To find out more about The Beardy Gardener visit:
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