Coping with the Pandemic Blues: It Could Be a Walk in the Park
Whether you’re someone who suffers already from anxiety or depression, or you’re someone who, compliments of COVID-19, is overwhelmed by more stress than you’ve experienced before, utilizing positive coping methods has never been more essential to maintaining mental health. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t able to rely on our usual methods just as we need them the most. The things we love to do and the ways we connect with the people we love are either inaccessible to us or altered by pandemic protocols. The only way to manage that unwelcome change is to try to evolve along with it by developing new or adapted ways to alleviate stress, create joy, and find inner calm.
Following the Evergreen Trail at Oak Openings.
One of the ways I cope with anxiety is by creating plans and setting short- and long-term goals. This has felt nearly impossible recently, as more often than not, I don’t know what to expect, even a few weeks into the future. Operating in the unknown and adjusting to shifting norms has challenged my mental health and emotional well-being, and I’m certainly not the only one struggling. Beyond goal-setting and planning, though, two guaranteed mood-improvers for me are nature and exercise. So, about two months ago, my family and I set a goal, attainable even in the midst of this chaotic pandemic existence: visit and explore every single Toledo-area Metropark by the end of 2020.
Since the beginning of summer, we’ve visited six different Metroparks: Toledo Botanical Garden, Swan Creek Preserve Metropark, Side Cut Metropark, Secor Metropark, Middlegrounds Metropark, and Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. All of them left us awestruck and grateful to live in Toledo. Middlegrounds was the only park of the six that none of us had ever visited, and we were captivated by the green space we found tucked along the river, juxtaposed with downtown Toledo’s urban landscape. We hope to visit again this summer and rent bicycles when we do. Secor, with its wet woodlands, meadows, and prairies, is a contender for the grown-ups’ favorite thus far, while our nine-year-old is fondest of Oak Openings. Why? It boasts the best playground, of course. Next on our list are Farnsworth and Bend View Metroparks, where we plan to kayak and hike.
Having fun on the Side Cut Playground.
Every park we’ve visited has offered ample space for safe social distancing (including the playgrounds), and every visit has felt like a much-needed adventure. While hiking trails, we’ve immersed ourselves in the gorgeous foliage of our surroundings, and we’ve found welcome relief from social media, video conference calls, and six-feet-apart awkwardness. Metroparks Toledo’s mantra is “Get Outside Yourself.” And through physical activity combined with nature exploration, we have done exactly that. We’ve gotten outside the parts of ourselves that are worried, uncertain, and preoccupied, which has allowed us to be in the moment together in a way that seems elusive any place else. As soon as we leave one park, I can’t wait to visit another.
A few semi-pro tips for your next Metropark adventure: for the planners, researchers, and/or itinerary enthusiasts, the Metroparks Toledo website includes a comprehensive, user-friendly trail guide that lets you filter by surface, traffic level, and park, as well as an interactive trail map. For the goal-oriented folks, it’s not too late to sign up for the Metroparks Trail Challenge, which runs from June 6, 2020 to June 4, 2021. And for those Lucas County residents who simply want to get out of the house for a change of scenery in a socially responsible way, you won’t have to travel far from your doorstep to find it.
