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155: How to Use Light to Deal with the Winter Blues (Dr. Michael Terman)

Humans Outside

Release Date: 11/04/2021

381: My outdoor habit has taught me this about getting OK with seasons (Outdoor Diary) show art 381: My outdoor habit has taught me this about getting OK with seasons (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

When was the last time you thought about the way learning to notice and navigate changing seasons affects how you view your indoor life? One of the best things about spending a lot of time outdoors is how it prompts you to pause and see how the world is shifting day by day. Are you ready for it? Are you taking it as it comes? No matter how you approach the shift in seasons, one thing is certain: getting used to changes outdoors can teach you a thing or two about changes indoors.  Getting okay with growth  Noticing when it's coming  Embracing what it brings Listen to this...

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380 Best of - Safe and Solo: Empowering Women to Play Outside Alone and Feel Great About It (Nicole Snell, self-defense expert) show art 380 Best of - Safe and Solo: Empowering Women to Play Outside Alone and Feel Great About It (Nicole Snell, self-defense expert)

Humans Outside

Ready for solo adventure? Feeling safe? Getting out there by yourself can feel like a real safety risk. I absolutely love going out alone, but I know it comes with pros and cons.  But it doesn't mean I don't go. It just means I go empowered. Nicole Snell, a safety expert and owner of Girls Fight Back who specializes in self-defense in the outdoors, has a different idea. In this episode she shares her best tips and tricks to empower you to get into nature solo while also staying safe.  Hear Nicole talk about staying stafe outside in this "best of" episode. Connect with this episode: ...

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379: Have you hugged a tree lately? Because I have, and it’s great. (Outdoor Diary) show art 379: Have you hugged a tree lately? Because I have, and it’s great. (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

  When did you last hug a tree? I mean literally, actually hug a tree? Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but hang with me, because this silly thing has been recharging and reshaping how I feel about heading outside. Listen now!      Connect with this episode:   Some of the good stuff: [00:35] Tree Hugging as Gratitude [01:20] Grounding Experience of Tree Hugging [01:41] Winter Contrast and Appreciation in Seattle [02:49] Monthly Sit Spot Reflection  [03:08] Observations and Gratitude for Trees [04:36] Emotional and Sensory Connection with Nature  

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378: Looking outside for symbols of hope (Outdoor Diary) show art 378: Looking outside for symbols of hope (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

The changing of seasons is the perfect time to look around for signs of changing life outside. But what if instead of just seeing the signs, you looked at them as encouragement for your day? What if you saw them as symbols of hope that you can take with you or find whenever you need a little push through your day? What would you choose? How would it help you? Learn about my chosen symbol in this episode of Humans Outside. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:35] Signs of spring and easter [1:19] Here’s where I see new life in nature [1:58] Excuse me winter,...

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377 Powered by City Nature: Fueling an Urban Outdoor Habit (Brittany Gowan, author and coach) show art 377 Powered by City Nature: Fueling an Urban Outdoor Habit (Brittany Gowan, author and coach)

Humans Outside

If you’ve ever spent time living in a major city, you know finding nature takes a lot more intentionality than if you spend all of your time in a rural environment. You might even think about experiencing nature in a city as happening in spite of the concrete jungle, not because of it. But what if you flipped that on its head? What if you learned ways to appreciate nature because of the city it’s in? That’s something today’s guest, Brittany Gowan, has become good at as part of her work coaching organizations and executives. With an industrial and organizational psychology master's...

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376: Here’s an outdoor thing I’ve never once regretted (Outdoor Diary) show art 376: Here’s an outdoor thing I’ve never once regretted (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

You know the photos don’t tell the whole story: doing something cool outdoors or going on an epic adventure takes work. And I don’t just mean deciding where to go and then peeling yourself out of your house. I mean: Sacrificing other things you want/need to do Living with the discomfort of flexibility Preparation and vision But is it worth it? Yes. Listen to this episode to hear more now! Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:35] Just a little introvert dilemma [1:06] Answering the call of adventure despite inconvenience [2:56] You’re going to have to make some...

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375 Dear future me: Here’s a lesson about the power sunshine. (Outdoor Diary) show art 375 Dear future me: Here’s a lesson about the power sunshine. (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

You’d think after all of these days outside over years of keeping my outdoor habit, I’d have figured out that after feeling some kind of way in the winter, I am an entirely new person when the daylight comes back. But no. So this is a letter from current me to future me, based on the experience of past me. And I bet these me-s can you help you, too. Listen now. Some of the good stuff: [:35] Dear all the Amys: listen up [:48] This is a letter about the power of sunshine [1:52] Remember back like two weeks ago when you thought you were done for? [2:22] It’s all about powering through to...

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374: What to do when your adventure falls apart thanks to another human (Luc Mehl & Sarah Histand, outdoor adventure experts) show art 374: What to do when your adventure falls apart thanks to another human (Luc Mehl & Sarah Histand, outdoor adventure experts)

Humans Outside

Remember my rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon that became a dangerous disaster after another member of the group put us all at risk? Yeah, that wasn’t great. But when I shared that story, I immediately received a parade of messages from Humans Outside followers and podcast fans with their own stories of outdoor misadventures caused by someone else’s poor choices. There’s some comfort in knowing my experience wasn’t unique. But it also made me think maybe there’s a lesson there on what we can all do better next time. If so many of us have had a similar problem, maybe we need someone...

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373: What to do when the outdoors wears on your every nerve (Outdoor Diary) show art 373: What to do when the outdoors wears on your every nerve (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

There are just certain outdoor things that drive me absolutely bonkers. They make my nerves feel like tattered edges, especially if they’ve been going on for awhile. And that’s a problem, because I am committed to getting outside every single day, no matter what. … and that “no matter what” includes stuff I don’t like, and even stuff I hate. So what do I do when this happens? I take these three steps. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:35] I’m betting you have some outdoor thing you hate. Don’t be a hero about this. [1:01] Here are some really...

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372: They clear-cut part of my backyard trails and I’m devastated (Outdoor Diary) show art 372: They clear-cut part of my backyard trails and I’m devastated (Outdoor Diary)

Humans Outside

They clear-cut part of my backyard trails and I’m devastated (Outdoor Diary) When I heard the saws, I should’ve known it was not a good thing, not just a trail crew clearing wood downed on the trail. I never guessed the loss those sounds were bringing. And when I saw it, I stood in disbelief. I guess that’s the risk brought by loving something. When it’s taken away, a piece of you feels gone, too. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:35] Man-made destruction without warning [1:45] I assumed it wasn’t major. Boy was I wrong. [2:55] Only Treebeard has the...

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More Episodes

It’s a familiar feeling for many of us over the winter months: the light fades, the darker days settle in and your mood dips. It can feel hard to get outside and hard to do really anything. Motivating yourself off the couch becomes an even bigger challenge than normal.

But there’s steps you can take to counter those feelings. In this episode Dr. Michael Terman, an expert in treating seasonal depression with light therapy, shares his best tips and findings for getting through the winter months with your mood and sanity intact.

Connect with this episode:

Read about the Center for Environmental Therapeutics: https://cet.org/

Take the circadian rhythm assessment: https://cet.org/assessments/

Follow the Center for Environmental Therapeutics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychronotherapy

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humansoutside

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humansoutside