After three weeks, I knew it: I had to go outside and walk. My baby and I.
And then, suddenly, I was a mother, and my days were completely different from before. At first, I stayed inside for three weeks, which felt very strange to me. Normally, all I want in a day is to go outside. Not wanting to go out was a natural psychological response to the postpartum period—the time right after giving birth. Nature has designed it so beautifully: at first, you don’t want any external stimuli; you just want to cocoon with your baby. After three weeks, I suddenly knew what I wanted: I wanted to go outside again. I started with a short walk of fifteen minutes, carrying my baby in a sling. Every day, I walked a little farther. From five weeks postpartum, I walked at least an hour every day with my baby. Good for both of us—for the baby and for mama!
And now, we are already almost three months past childbirth. For the past few days, I have felt slightly less euphoric than before. That, too, is normal—life is full of ups and downs, and on top of that, my hormones are still finding their balance as a new mother. But still, it doesn’t feel good to have a low moment. On Monday, I even stayed inside the entire day—not the smartest choice, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything. Today, however, I did. My baby and I walked for 2.5 hours in nature. And, as you might have guessed: I feel so much better, and so does my baby.
Walking in nature offers countless scientifically proven benefits for mental health. It reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels, decreases blood pressure, and promotes relaxation. Research by Park et al. (2010) shows that “shinrin-yoku” (forest bathing) leads to a decrease in stress hormones and an improvement in mood. Additionally, nature walks reduce anxiety, depression, and negative thoughts. Bratman et al. (2015) found that walking in a natural environment significantly decreases rumination and fosters more positive emotions. The restoration of attention through natural settings, as described in the Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989), enhances cognitive functions such as working memory, problem-solving, and creativity.
Beyond stress reduction and emotional well-being, nature walks also strengthen social and emotional connections. They help reduce loneliness and provide a safe space for self-reflection. A study by Berman et al. (2012) found that exposure to nature reduces symptoms of depression and promotes mindfulness. For people recovering from trauma, walking in nature can support resilience and emotional processing (Van den Berg et al., 2010). In short, walking in nature is an accessible and effective way to strengthen mental well-being, offering both immediate and long-term benefits.
And so, I found myself walking again. My baby and I. I started out feeling restless, with a crying baby in my arms. But 2.5 hours later, I was calm—and so was he. At first, we walked against the wind, then with the wind at our backs. And that’s where I found my answer: once again, I was trying too hard to do what wasn’t possible. Walking against the wind is possible, but it’s not pleasant. Walking with the wind at your back is what you should do. Don’t resist—flow with it. Thank you, nature. Thank you, legs. Thank you, metaphors and symbols. Now, I can move forward again.