4 Activities in Miami to do with you Partner to Help your Anxiety from a Miami Therapist
What is Included in the Post:
Why being outdoors is important for our mental health
List of outdoor activities in Miami
Anxiety Tips to support your mental health for each outdoor activity listed
Why is Anxiety so Common?
This year has been challenging to say the least. Our routines have changed, our ability to connect with others has changed, our habits and communities have changed. During the pandemic, some of your coping mechanism, or things that helped with your anxiety, might now not be accessible. You might have gone to a community gym class or a yoga studio to support your mental health. Maybe you had had a weekly wine night with your friends or enjoyed a nice dinner at a restaurant with your partner to help you de-stress from the work week. Or maybe you were working with a therapist working on anxiety treatment in person, but now you are looking for therapy online. A lot of these activities are no longer as accessible to us, leaving us with less tools and resources to help us manage our anxiety.
Our support systems and coping mechanisms have been removed from our life, leaving us vulnerable to stress and anxiety.
Being Outdoors Can Help your Anxiety
One activity that has continuous been shown to support mental health is being outdoors and in nature. We are lucky that here in Miami, Florida we are able to be outside during the Winter months. We are lucky that we have access to hours of sunshine and temperate weather, which are supportive for positive mood. We are lucky to have access to the beach, whether it be South Beach, Key Biscayne beach or Fort Lauderdale beach. I often notice that as soon as I step outside after hours at the computer and being indoors that I feel my mood shifting and my body relaxing. This is because being outdoors, in nature, impacts our nervous systems, calming it down.
I have found that since the pandemic I have had to be really purposeful in how I spend my free time. I have become purposeful in choosing to be outdoors, to take long walks outside. It has helped to plan outdoor activities to help manage and calm my anxiety. I have also searched for activities in Miami that are outside but not too overcrowded so that I feel comfortable and safe.
It can also be helpful to take breaks throughout your day. Even if you just step outside or on your balcony for a few minutes it can be impactful and helpful to manage our anxiety.
List of Outdoor Activities in Miami to do with you Partner from Miami Therapist
Couple’s Activity by Miami Therapist: Kayaking in Key Biscayne
Kayaking is one of my favorites activities to do outside in Miami’s winter. It allows you to be outside yet safely socially-distanced from others. You are able to be on the water, connected to nature and the tranquility and calm that comes with being near the water. You can do it with your partner and use it as a way to reconnect with them, away from the kids and family, or you can go by yourself and give yourself some much-needed time to be present with yourself.
This spot is located on Key Biscayne and when kayaking you are able to see Miami Beach, Fisher Island and mainland Key Biscayne. So many beautiful views in Miami.
Places that offer Kayaking in Miami
Virginia Key Outdoor Center
Location: Located just before the bridge to Key Biscayne. The entrance is just opposite Miami Seaquarium.
Why We Like It: Nestled in a bay on mangroves, you are launched into a small bay where you are almost guaranteed to see manatees and other wildlife.
Anxiety Tip: Leave your cell phone behind- or turn it off- if you feel that is a safe decision for you and your family. Be present in the moment. Look for 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can smell, 2 things you can touch, 1 thing you can taste.
Adventure Sports – Matheson Hammock Park
https://adventuresportsusa.com/blogs/sports/matheson-excursions
Location: Located inside Matheson Hammock State Park off of Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables. This is close to South Miami, Coral Gables and Pinecrest. You will find them in the parking lot near the lagoon
Why We Like It: You get stunning views of the Miami skyline. You can see some of the beautiful homes in Gables Estates along Old Culter Road and other areas close to Pinecrest and Coral Gables.
Anxiety Tip: If being outdoors can stress you out, find a time of day that you prefer- maybe it is mornings because it isn’t too hot, or late evenings. Make it a priority to go during those times to allow you to feel more comfortable
2. Couple’s Activity by Couples Therapist: Beach near Key Biscayne and Miami Beach
There is something so calming about being near the water and sitting in the sun. It is good for our mental health and a great way to reset your mind and body. One of the problems here in Miami is that the beaches, especially Miami Beach, have got very crowded, especially during the pandemic. This can be the opposite of calming, causing anxiety and panic. One of our favorite beaches is often not crowded at all and in parts is shaded.
Virginia Key Beach located near Key Biscayne
Location: Located on Virginia Key, near Key Biscayne.
Why We Like It: It offers the calm and tranquility we need at the beach.
Anxiety Tip: Many people with anxiety dread the crowds or the hassle of struggling to find a calm space when being in public places. Virginia Key Beach offer small areas away from crowds, surrounded by calming trees and the ocean. If you walk all the way to the end of the beach, closer to being able to see Fisher Island, you will find yourself in a calm peaceful oasis.
Other options include Miami Beach, away from South Beach, or Matheson Hammock Park which is located near Pinecrest and Coral Gables
3.Couple’s Activity by Miami Therapist: Evening Night Hike & Campfire at Deering Estate near to Pinecrest
If being out in the sun is not your thing, then maybe an evening nature walk in the woods at Deering Estate might be what you are looking for. On the guided walk you will lean in your senses and listen for the hooting of owls and the rustling of leaves. The process of listening and looking for nature can be a form of meditation and very helpful to calm your anxiety. Deering Estate offers many other outdoor activities here in Miami and with our Winter weather here, there isn’t a better time to try something.
Deering Estate which is close to Pinecrest and Coral Gables
https://deeringestate.org/events/category/miami-nature-eco-tours/
Located: Located near Pinecrest and Cutler Bay areas, Deering Estate is an old house and beautiful grounds located right on the water.
Why We Like It: They offer amazing outdoor activities that range from sunrise kayaks to island campfires. It is a wonderful way to be outdoors and connected with nature.
Anxiety Tip: Being outdoors at night might not be something that initially makes you feel calm, however there can be something peaceful about being outside without the blue lights of cellphones and screens that we are often exposed to. Try and refrain from screen the same evening you go on the hike and see if you sleep any better. Anxiety, screen use and sleep have a strong connection.
4. Couple’s Activity by Miami Therapist: Picnic Outside at Regatta Park, Coconut Grove
The pandemic has had a huge impact on our support system and our relationships. Often our relationships and connections are what keep us mentally strong, offering us a respite from day to day life and bringing us joy. So how do we find ways to continue to connect with others but in a safe way? Relationships and secure, meaningful friendships are a huge resource for mental health and anxiety. One option is to have an outdoor picnic. Each separate household can bring their own food, blanket and chairs. You can set up next to each other under the shade of the tress in the park at a safe distance and enjoy catching up in a socially distanced, safe way. One great location for this is Regatta Park in Coconut Grove. The trees in the back offer a nice shaded location to relax and connect.
Regatta Park in Coconute Gorve
https://www.miamigov.com/Residents/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Directory/Regatta-Park
Location: It is located in Coconut Grove near the marina off of South Bayshore Drive, near Miami City Hall. There is good, easy parking too, which is always a plus. It is also close to Brickell and Downtown Miami
Why We Love It: There is plenty of wide open space, and there is even a park area for kids to play. It is safe and feels clean as well.
Anxiety Tip: Get there earlier before your friends arrive and lie down on your blanket and watch the clouds. There is something very calming and connecting to nature in that way.
Begin Miami Counseling or Online Therapy in Florida:
Struggling with anxiety can be so challenging. It can consume your life and make it hard to really enjoy important moments. You are sick of feeling the same and want change in your life. Maybe you can’t handle your anxiety anymore or are struggling in your relationship. Help is available and change is possible with Miami counseling. Our Miami therapist specializes in providing marriage counseling in Miami and couples therapy in Miami as well as anxiety counseling.
To begin counseling in Miami or online therapy in Florida, please follow these steps:
Contact our Miami therapist,
Request an initial consultation appointment with a therapist who specializes in marriage counseling,
Find happiness in your relationship and yourself thanks to marriage counseling in Miami
Other Services Offered at The Heard Counseling:
The Heard Counseling offers counseling and therapy in Miami and online in Florida to couples, individuals and teens at our therapy center based in Miami, Florida. We offer online services to make it easier for our busy clients. In addition to offering couples therapy in Miami and couples counseling in Miami, they also offer birth trauma treatment, anxiety therapy, therapy for dads, therapy for moms, infertility counseling and support, therapy for parents who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss, and counseling for teens. Contact their counseling office to learn more about the many ways we can help you feel happier in your life and in your marriage.