I believe that if you have access to a garden, a green space, or even just a balcony, it’s incredibly beneficial to spend at least some time outdoors every day. I’m not talking about walking—we all know that staying healthy and fit requires regular walks, ideally reaching at least 10,000 steps a day.
Well, I must confess that in Dubai, sometimes it’s physically impossible to do that during the summer months… But in my defense, when we travel in the summer for a month or two, I make up for it by walking a lot.
Living in such a busy city brings me a lot of stress and anxiety often. I won’t lie. Especially, traffic in Dubai, in my case.
But I’ve started using my garden as a space for reflection and rest. It’s a chance to step away from the noisy world and listen to my inner self.
Some of my happiest memories come from spending summer months in a yellow summer cottage, far from the rush of city life.
Now, I bring a cozy blanket, wrap myself in it, and close my eyes. Being outdoors helps quiet my bustling mind for a while.
I’ve made it a habit to spend time in the garden with a book or simply sit in an armchair, wrapped in a blanket (when it’s winter in Dubai), and take a nap.
I pour herbal or matcha tea into my favorite cup and take it with me.
I don’t listen to music or podcasts. Sometimes, I do. But I mostly turn everything off.
Instead, I let my mind rest and tune in to the sounds around me—the chirping birds, the rustling palm leaves in the neighbor’s garden, children playing in the nearby park, or just the wind passing through my garden on its way to somewhere else.
Life is full of sounds, yet our minds are often overwhelmed by both inner and outer noise. Sometimes, we just need to let it all go and rest.
It’s such a wonderful practice—I only wish I had started doing it earlier and more often.
What about you? What helps you to keep your mind in peace and let it have a rest?
Happy little things 