Nature Journaling Connects to Outdoors During Indoor Months

You've made it — the 10 darkest weeks of the year (November 16 through January 22) are behind us. Even still, the end of January and the month of February and even March can often feel just as dark and grueling to survive. As New Englanders, we know the usual tips to survive these cold, indoor months, but recently I heard of a suggestion I'd never considered for the winter before: nature journaling. In these months we spend indoors beside the fireplace, we become disconnected from nature and the outside world. Some days seem to be a repeat of the last if you don't make an intentional effort to mix up your daily activities and responsibilities. So, it's no wonder so many people are impatiently waiting on the muddy arrival of spring. Nature journaling is intended to give an alleviating boost to the winter blues by improving observation and deepening one's connection to nature by noticing the slight environmental changes that occur each passing day. It's easily customizable and you only must take notice of what interests you. While some may only jot notes of what they can see from their window, others may record in-depth details of what they experience on winter hikes or snowy ski trips. For the backyard birders, record the birds you notice as you drink your morning coffee. As we approach March and April, you may slowly start to notice the return of migratory birds like Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins — an undeniable sign of a change in season. Urbanites may focus more on human behavior. Take notice of how many people are spending time outside. Are there more folks out for walks or kids at the playground this week? And for those who don't shy away from the winter extremities, the options for observation are numerous, only limited by how willing one is to venture into the icy tundra. Some ideas for nature journaling include: Animal sightings and behavior Trees, winter plants and grasses Weather patterns Changes in flora and fauna Sunrises and sunsets Moon phases and winter constellations These can be purely scientific or interwoven with personal reflections, drawings, prints and more. Expand on observations with prompts like: I wonder… I notice… It reminds me of… As the practice continues, patterns and changes will emerge, giving evidence to the habits of New England residents, both human, plant and animal. This mindfulness act will keep you attuned to nature's changes, and as spring approaches, you'll notice the increased number of songbirds, daffodils peeking out of their frosty floor and the swelling buds of trees. While we hunker in hibernation mode, so much life continues to flourish in the white-blanketed corners of earth, but with the budding trees will emerge your hope for spring renewal and you'll know the warmth of sunshine and sludge of mud is on the slowly thawing horizon. Keep track of the birds you notice at your feeder or the dates and inches of snowfall. If you live near woodlands or have frequent animal activity, jot notes of animal tracks you notice.