BRITS are turning to nature to banish the January blues – including stargazing, foraging, and outdoor yoga.
The poll of 2,000 adults found recent events like Covid and the cost of living crisis have taken their toll, with 60 per cent feeling like they need a lift “more than ever”.
As a result, 91 per cent will attempt to brighten their mood this month with morale-boosting activities in nature.
Such pick-me-ups also include woodland walks, birdwatching, and cold water swimming.
It also emerged adults only spent a total of an hour each week ‘in nature’ last year.
However, 66 per cent are keen to spend more time outdoors in 2024, with 81 per cent claiming being around nature is good for their mood.
The study was commissioned by Clipper Teas, which has teamed up with Drag Queen Gardener to launch “the GOOD tea campaign” to highlight the benefits of reconnecting with nature.
TV presenter and horticulturist, Drag Queen Gardener, aka Tom Leonard, said: “Starting my own allotment and diving into the world of gardening was not only incredibly healing for me.
“It also allowed me to have a greater appreciation for the biodiversity we have in our gardens and green spaces.”
The study also found for 39 per cent, their general mood is ‘worse’ in January than it is during the other 11 months of the year.
However, 61 per cent aren’t writing it off just yet – as they claim they’ll do all they can to make sure the first month of the year is a ‘success.’
1. Walking around your local park
2. Going on woodland walks
3. Gardening
4. Looking out for nature (squirrels, fish, insects, ducks and other birds)
5. Pet-sitting or dog walking
6. Birdwatching
7. Outdoor cycling
8. Outdoor running
9. Being more eco-friendly
10. Nature photography
11. Watching videos of nature
12. Listening to natural sounds (recordings or apps that play birdsong, ocean waves or rainfall, and more)
13. Filling your home with more house plants
14. Stargazing
15. Upcycling things which would otherwise get binned
16. Going on park runs
17. Being involved in a walking or rambling group
18. Decorating your home with natural materials (eg leaves, flowers, feathers, tree bark or seeds)
19. Build an animal habitat (birdboxes, insect hotels, hedgehog houses, or similar)
20. Filling your house with healing stones and crystals
21. Beachcombing
22. Litterpicking
23. Drawing or painting animals or nature scenes
24. Mountain climbing
25. Cold water swimming
26. Writing about animals or nature
27. Getting a new pet
28. Fishing
29. Foraging
30. Outdoor yoga
And it appears nature will play a major part in this with other popular wildlife-inspired activities including gardening, nature photography, and taking part in litter-picks.
Going on park runs, building animal habitats like birdboxes, insect hotels, or hedgehog houses, and filling homes with houseplants will also be commonplace.
As will beachcombing, joining a rambling or walking group, and going for strolls around local parks, according to research carried out through OnePoll.
It also emerged 79 per cent of those polled think there is ‘too much” bad news around at the moment.
However, 59 per cent claim they actively try to counteract this by spreading positivity themselves.
And often this is achieved through sharing good news – specifically about environmental issues, with 32 per cent revealing positive stories about sustainability improves how they’re feeling.
Hannah Williams, from Clipper Teas, said: “We’re on a mission to reconnect you with nature – our commitment transcends the cup.
“We pledge to nurture biodiversity, uphold ethical practices, and contribute to a global movement restoring our connection with nature.”
