Are you a health or social care professional who is struggling? Maybe you feel close to or are recovering from burnout and need a new path? Are you looking to retire or move on from a demanding and unsustainable career in nursing, teaching, social care or other stressful caring role?
I’d love to invite you to explore becoming a Certified Forest Bathing Practitioner. Let’s discuss a little more about what a new career in nature, for a caring professional like you, could look like.
Introducing Forest Bathing Therapy
Forest Bathing, also known as Forest Therapy, comes from the Japanese term: Shinrin-Yoku (森林 浴). This literally translates as ‘bathing your senses in the atmosphere of the forest’, which is why it’s often called Forest Bathing.
It is about focussing on the immersion of your senses in the natural world, often giving the opportunity for nature-based mindfulness and a new – much deeper, almost spiritual – connection with nature. Something that’s proven to be very good for our wellbeing.
Whilst it is not yet ‘mainstream’, I have witnessed and been a big part of its growing popularity and I am delighted that it is now officially recognised by the NHS in the UK. Following a 5-year study, they back it as equally effective as some already supported talking therapies and it has been approved as a ‘green social prescription’ too.
If Forest Bathing is something you are completely unfamiliar with then to explain, in brief, a typical session involves a small group of people being quiet and moving very slowly for 3 hours (we might even lie on the ground too!), getting to know nature in a new way. I call it connected solitude – the session is a mix of sharing circles where we have the opportunity to talk, and comfortable silence. Take a look here to learn more: What happens during a Forest Bathing session?
Could Forest Bathing be the Key to Recovering from Burnout?
I am writing this post because I have met many people who have joined my Forest Bathing sessions who are suffering due to working in the caring and teaching professions, whilst also balancing other caring commitments.
Why do they join me for a guided Forest Bathing session? Because many feel the need to support their own mental health and wellbeing. Their jobs are stressful and relentless. They may have long term health conditions or they have suffered with burnout (or feel very close to it).
I’ve spoken with those who left careers in teaching, nursing or social care due to impending or experienced burnout, caused by the high pressure responsibilities, extreme demands on their time, and short staffing levels. I have also seen what wonderful Forest Bathing practitioners they could become. Why? Because of a number of reasons, but particularly the innate caring skills, the drive to help others and their emotional intelligence.
In addition, I see their non-negotiable need for more flexibility, more time outside and more time for themselves.
There’s only one thing better that going Forest Bathing, and that’s becoming a Forest Bathing Guide! Let’s explore this further.
Use your Transferable Skills
There are many people that have caring and therapeutic skills. Those in the nursing and teaching professions have such varying and wide-ranging experiences of truly helping others and this is such a wonderful thing.
However, what makes those who have worked in these professions so unique are the number of transferable skills they have in addition to their caring abilities.
As a Forest Bathing practitioner, you are always learning and you may have to draw on different experiences and skills at any time.
It’s likely you’ll want to share past experiences. You will often guide a group of people with very different backgrounds, as well as expectations and requirements, so you need to be adaptable. You also need practical skills like first aid, organisation, planning and financial understanding too.
For those caring professionals who have undertaken many administrative tasks, as well as management roles, these are skills already at your disposal, and are definitely transferable.
Find a New Way of Working
Having always worked shifts and/or been in full-time employment, now might be the time when you want to explore a new way of working. Have you dreamed of a new career that allows you a lot more flexibility?
Forest Bathing sessions can take place as often as you wish to run them. They can even fit around a part time position, should you wish to continue your nursing, health care or a caring role, but on reduced hours.
With Forest Bathing, you can effectively work as little or as much as you wish – growing a lucrative small business or an additional revenue stream. This all helps in recovering from burnout; focusing on something new means more time outside so you can give your nervous system a rest while boosting your immune system at the same time.
Recovering from Burnout doesn’t mean you have to stop Helping Others
What’s wonderful about a career as a Forest Bathing guide is that you do not have to walk away from helping others. Forest Bathing is a form of therapy and the role of the guide is incredibly important, with a lot of responsibility to help others.
At the end of my sessions, I am so often overwhelmed by the feedback. The different ways people feel and the improvement in their mood or sense of self is incredible.
This is very fulfilling for you as their guide – you can still act as a creator and holder of space, a care giver, and make a difference to others, which I know is a value I share with some many of those in the health, social care, teaching and medical community.
Spend More Time in Nature
Unfortunately, at present, not many demanding roles involve being outside. Specifically, many caring professionals are stuck inside unnaturally nature-free zones, such as hospitals, surgeries, schools and care homes, or visiting people in their own homes.
If you also have caring responsibilities in your own home or that of a loved one, it can be really hard to make time to be outside at all, let alone spending time in the countryside or a small patch of green!
However, if you have always loved the outdoors, and ache to spend more time there, then this is your opportunity to ‘break free’ and rediscover a connection to the natural world, no matter the weather (and not just a quick walk with the dog during some time off).
Forest Bathing is also a very sustainable and an environmentally friendly career opportunity. It’s a way for you to stand up for nature, in a way your current role probably does not allow.
Prioritise the Time to Look After Yourself Again while Recovering from Burnout
I think spending time in nature is vital and in 2022 under national and international Human Rights Law, humans have the right to have access to natural resources, green spaces, and a clean and healthy environment. But how many of us are lucky enough to visit or view these green spaces? Nature has helped me so much – to overcome health issues, stress and even bereavement. This is what I want for you too.
Prioritise Your Health and Wellbeing
If you have experienced a devastating effect on your mental health or are recovering from burnout due to your work, then I invite you to consider a new career that will support your health. Imagine being blessed with a job that’s actually good for you!
If you have a long term health condition, such a long Covid, CFS, or other medical needs which makes self-care and time out even more important, then do consider how being in nature more could help you.
Importantly, if like me, you truly recognise how much the natural world supports you already, then this is a chance to benefit even more. When you offer Forest Therapy, it allows you to look after yourself at the same time as caring for others.
As the saying goes, ‘we can’t pour from an empty cup’. If your mental or physical health is suffering due to your work as a carer, nurse, teacher or health professional, then it may be that continuing with your current role is simply no longer possible. You might need to taking time off and focus on recovering from burnout. However, I also appreciate the financial burden this can put upon you.
Combining purpose with profit
Stepping into a new role which may hold the same stress, anxiety and potential for burnout is not what I want for anyone, either.
A role as a Forest Bathing guide could be the answer for you. It provides the opportunity to earn money, but without sacrificing your own health and wellness. You can stand firm on your own needs, but also have an entirely new adventure that’s sustainable and ethical, which involves being able to walk your own path.
From Caring Professional to Forest Bathing Guide
Time to Thrive on a New Career Path…among the trees?
When you have that innate need to help others, I know how important it is that you continue to be a care giver. However, the modern world of medicine and the current role of a nurse or allied health professional, especially working in the NHS, is sadly exhausting and often unsustainable. The stress (and paperwork!) means it may not be the job you fell in love with or hoped for. This is true for many social care and teaching roles.
However, don’t let this get you down. There is a world of opportunities for you to use your qualifications, skills and experience and continue to enhance the lives of others, while also recovering from burnout. What could the future hold for you?
Learn more about the training programme here: https://adoreyouroutdoors.co.uk/forestbathingguidetraining/
