Spring forest walk
A slow walk in the first warm weeks of spring, thirty to forty minutes among the new green, a thermos of lemon balm or nettle tea afterwards on the doorstep.
Steps
Brew before you leave
Fill a small thermos. Two teaspoons of dried lemon balm or two teaspoons of cut nettle herb into half a litre of just-boiled water. Cover and steep ten minutes, strain into the thermos, close.
Walk at half your usual pace
Choose a path you know. Walk slowly enough that you can hear your own footfall and the wind in the new leaves. Phone in the bag, not in the hand.
Stop three times
Pick three places to stop and stand still for one minute each. A young birch, a clearing, a turn in the path. One minute of just looking.
Turn back unhurried
Walk back the same way at the same slow pace. The return is usually quieter than the way out.
Doorstep cup
Sit on the doorstep, or a bench by the door, and drink one cup from the thermos before going inside.
A walk is a walk; the usual sensible footwear, sun cover, and tick check after the season starts apply. The tea is optional. Lemon balm and nettle are both long-tradition European household herbs. Pregnancy and breastfeeding: a household-strength cup of either is usually considered fine; ask your midwife if you would prefer a second opinion. Children can have a smaller, weaker cup of lemon balm; nettle infusion is a bit grassy for many children, save it for adults. Known compositae or grass allergies and active hay fever: pick the path and the day with care, and the tea pick of the two with care. People on diuretics or with kidney concerns should ask their doctor before a regular nettle tea.