Touch Some Grass (And Take a Photo Too!)

The sun is finally out, flowers are blooming, and spring break is fully on. While we hope you’re filling your days with exciting adventures and invigorating activities, it is also totally ok to take it slow, rest up, recharge and get ready for what’s to come. In this week’s article, we’ll give you one activity you can incorporate into this break to go out in nature, relax, take it slow, and flex your creative muscle!

Mindful Photowalking

Mindfulness is all about giving your brain a little breather. It’s the art of slowing down, tuning into the here and now, and taking a break from the whirlwind of thoughts and to-do lists. And guess what? You can totally combine that with a creative little adventure outside.

Enter: the mindful photowalk.

This is not your average scroll-through-the-park situation. This is a chance to notice the tiny things: the funky shapes of leaves, the way sunlight hits a puddle, the chaotic charm of a dandelion puffball. It’s about being present, reconnecting with nature.

And just so you know, “nature” doesn’t have to mean a national park or an epic forest hike. It can be your local park, a scrappy patch of grass on your street, or even some potted plants on a windowsill. You don’t need sweeping views to feel connected, sometimes, a single daisy will do the trick.

The goal? To relax. To notice. To maybe snap a few photos of things you’d normally breeze past.

Preparation and kit list

You don’t need fancy gear, just a few handy bits:

• A bag to keep things in, and a smaller bag for things you might collect
• Suitable clothes (waterproofs are handy when you want to kneel, or a mat/ carrier bag).
• A magnifying glass or similar if you have one.
• A camera – any device will do (if you have a macro lens or cheap phone camera clip on)
• A Notebook – You might want to jot down your thoughts
• Water/snacks (or you might treat yourself at a cafe shop).

Things to Look For

You don’t have to wing it (unless you want to). Try setting yourself some light tasks before you head out — nothing fancy, just ideas to keep you engaged. Here’s a few to get you started:

• Find five different textures
• Spot three types of shapes
• Search for colours that don’t usually appear in nature
• Follow a bug (respectfully)

To make the most of your mindful photowalk:

• Be courteous to other people, even if they are not towards you. Don’t let them hamper your kind moment to yourself.
• If it isn’t working out for you, do it another day.
• Collect things like grasses, weeds, leaves, and feathers. Be mindful of taking ornamental plants or being on private land.

Important notes:

• Keep safe and be aware of your surroundings. You might want to buddy up with a friend!
• Enjoy the process – embrace the mistakes!

Why It’s Worth It

Mindful Photowalking ticks a lot of wellbeing boxes, literally. The NHS’s Five Ways to Wellbeing? You’re hitting all of them here without even trying too hard:

• Exercise – you will have exercised and moved around green spaces or a city environment.
• Be Mindful – You have slowed down and been hyper focused on the smaller details around you. Therefore distracting you from anxious thoughts or intrusive memories.
• Learn – If not photography itself (depending on your ability), you have learned to enjoy the process and not the final result.
• Connect – You have connected with others either in a big way or a small way. Your buddy, passers-by, wildlife.
• To Give – You have gave kindness to the wildlife and nature around you.

And even if you didn’t check every box, that’s ok too. Being kind to yourself is the most important tool of all.

If you enjoyed this little outdoor adventure, you’re in for a treat. This activity (all the lovely wisdom behind it, and every picture from this article) comes straight from our self-study pack Photography on Wellbeing by Nicola Lewis-Dixon, a first-year MMU PhD student in the Arts and Humanities department and  the Co-Director of Photography on Wellbeing CIC . It’s packed with even more mindful prompts, creative exercises, and ways to connect with the world around you. So if this photowalk sparked your curiosity, go check it out and keep that wellbeing journey rolling. 

Looking for more activities to unwind, relax, and zone out? We have the perfect activities to take a break during the coming assessment period!

• Take a Break and Grow Mushrooms with FungALL CIC: Take a short break from assessments, grow some mushrooms, and chat about food sustainability at this workshop hosted by FungAll CIC. All participants will leave with a bucket full of mushroom substrate, ready and waiting to produce mushrooms for dinner!
• Zone out with an Ocean Flow Yoga Class: Join Ocean Generation for an Ocean-themed Yoga Flow to explore the importance of the Ocean in our lives and how our bodies might mirror the ocean through yoga!

And remember, taking care of your wellbeing is always worth it. So, get out there, connect with nature, leave worries aside, and look out for the beauty hiding in plain sight.