How to enjoy the benefits of nature in retirement

From better sleep and lower stress levels to improvements in fitness, spending time in nature can benefit your health in all sorts of different ways.

Making time for nature is good at all ages, but when you reach retirement and have some extra hours to fill, you can enjoy even more of the benefits it has to offer.

Benefits of being outdoors

Nature delivers all sorts of health benefits. According to Mind, spending time in green spaces can reduce stress, help you feel more relaxed and improve your physical health.

Being outdoors also encourages people to be more active, with far-reaching benefits for our health. As well as improvements in sleep quality and mood, the NHS says there’s medical evidence that regular physical activity reduces the risk of diseases including heart disease, some cancers and dementia.

Embracing nature at home

It’s easy to enjoy these benefits by making nature part of your everyday life. Rather than take the car, consider walking. A bit of careful route planning and you can swap those busy roads for green spaces.

And why not take the family along too? Introducing children to nature can be great fun for everyone, as well as encouraging them to enjoy it when they’re older.

Local parks and nature reserves can be found throughout the country, even in the busiest cities. Many are also accessible for people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users and pushchairs. The Wildlife Trusts has a handy list of its accessible nature reserves.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, you could try the Japanese practice of forest bathing. This form of meditation can help you relax and destress. Check out the Forestry England guide to forest bathing for more information.

You can even bring some nature into your home or garden. You only need a couple of pots and you can enjoy growing (and eating!) your own vegetables.

Make nature part of your holiday

Nature can also become part of your holidays. Walking holidays are available throughout the UK and beyond. Just pack your walking boots and prepare to soak up that fresh air and scenery.

Ecotourism is another option you could explore if you want to combine nature and travel. Organisations such as Biosphere Expeditions, Earthwatch and Responsible Travel connect you with wildlife and nature projects around the world, letting you get involved with anything from sea turtles to elephants and whales.

Closer to home, charities like the RSPB, Trees for Life and Scotland: The Big Picture provide opportunities to be a paying volunteer on their conservation projects around the UK. Pick the project that takes your fancy and experience nature in a completely new way.

Spending time enjoying nature can have significant benefits in retirement. Co-op insurance can also help you make the most of this time. Visit our over 50 life insurance page to find out more.