Create a Backyard Oasis for Improved Mental Health
I’m a huge advocate of soaking up all things nature whenever things feel overwhelming or out-of-control. And research agrees with me, from Ingrid Fetell Lee’s concept of joyspotting to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Often, if we live in an urban or suburban setting, we think nature is inaccessible…even when it’s right outside our doors! It isn’t always possible to get away, so it’s important to bring nature to your backyard. I think we all learned this lesson in 2020, didn’t we? You don’t have to have to be a sprawling yard and you don’t have to have a massive budget to create a backyard oasis. A few simple elements can make a difference, no matter how much space or money you’re working with.
1. Plant a pollinator garden. This can be done in the ground or in containers, on your property or on your balcony. You’ll add color to your space, while helping the planet! The good news? Pollinators don’t have expensive taste (milkweed and wildflowers do well), and the seeds are fast-growing, so you won’t have to wait long to reap the rewards. If you plant them, they will come! It’s funny how the things that make nature appealing to us are also often the same things that are appealing to the very creatures we want to attract.
2. Hang a bird feeder or bird house. Your feeder or house doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. Just keep the feeder full of seed and you’ll have visitors in no time. It can take a little while for birds to get the memo that your restaurant is open, but once they know, you might have to refill it often. Depending on how much you like birds, this might not be a bad thing! Squirrels are nature’s clowns, so I don’t mind them coming to my feeder, but there are many squirrel-proof feeders on the market, if you find they’re hogging all of the food. Have a favorite bird? Research which specific seed (or nectar, as is the case for the hummingbird) to buy.
3. Consider a water feature. While the trickling water is calming and beautiful, and any water source will attract birds, these features are also mosquito breeding grounds if you live in certain regions. When you think of a true backyard oasis, you might assume there’s a bird bath, a fountain, a koi pond, or a pool of some sort present, and if that’s your version of zen perfection, make it happen. Just plant some lemongrass, or other mosquito-deterring plants around it for good measure.
4. Plant an edible garden. A lot of people are growing their own fruits and vegetables lately, and doing so can be a great way to keep your hands and mind busy. You’ll learn a lot through trial and error, you’ll be proud of yourself, you’ll likely make friends by asking questions in gardening Facebook groups, and you’ll probably start making environmentally-minded choices (like using a rain barrel, for example) after learning just how interconnected everything is. Again, this is something you can start with very little space and still get a hit of dopamine from watching it all grow.
5. Add a fire pit – Fire pits aren’t just for entertaining, though you might want to entertain once you have one! They instantly add a cozy and inviting element to any outdoor space. You can easily build one, but if you don’t want to or don’t have the space to, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Wait till the off-season or a big holiday weekend and buy one on sale.
6. Get comfortable furniture – What would make you want to spend more time in your outside space? That’s really the question we’re asking for each of these bullet points, but a place to sit can quickly make or break the entire space. Your budget, your needs, and your square footage will determine this, too. Is it important that you have a place for dining? A chaise lounge for relaxing? A spot for your morning coffee? Do you need shade? Once you’ve determined these things, check Facebook Marketplace, garage sales, secondhand shops, and apps like OfferUp before shelling out a lot for furniture that might be damaged in the elements.
7. Hire a professional landscaping company. Whether you need help getting started or simply maintaining what you’ve created, outsourcing the job will give more time to enjoy your outside space. Lawn and garden projects are often seen as just another chore, which is one more obstacle getting in between you and nature! Onorato Landscaping, here in New Jersey, helps families transform their backyards into calming spaces, which might mean replacing dilapidated pavers, improving drainage, or adding curb appeal. They even do snow removal; this Bergen NJ lawn service can really do it all!
You can create a backyard oasis without a lot of space, time, money, or effort, and if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can hire someone to do it for you! Adding a few simple things will encourage you to spend more time outside, and who knows what other positive changes will come next?
