The way we can acknowledge our hometown can have an involuntary impact on our mental, physical, and societal state. Despite a feeling of smallness, you can embrace
Mental Benefits of Discovering Your City
You can encourage your mental health benefits by acknowledging your home and exploring ways to find your place in the bigger picture. Find your favorite store for weekly grocery shopping, your favorite place to eat after a long day, or the cafe with the richest coffee to kick start your morning. Every place you visit has a deeper impact on you than you realize; you can involuntarily create a connection with a location from your personal interactions. Discover how returning to a specific place to reminisce or calm down can have a great impact on your mental and emotional well-being. You can improve your mental well-being by getting out and experiencing what your hometown has to offer. Kamloops is a small but still busy city and probably has something for you.
Image: Cali Nessman
The easiest way to feel at home is to find something or somewhere that connects you to the inner feeling of home. This home is not where you sleep or physically live, it is where we can feel safe, be ourselves, and have an opportunity to reach out to others. You will see the beneficial aspects of finding a place you belong and can thrive in no time. Step out of your comfort zone to experience something new; you may be surprised at how second nature it could become. For some people, their mental health feeds off of stability and comfort. Whereas others strive for spontaneity or discovery. Each person is unique in the way they sustain their mental health and well-being. Kamloops offers connections with nature, social crowds, or remote adventures; find your Kamloops.
Physical Benefits of Exploring Your City
Have you heard the statement “health is wealth”? Our physical health is essential to our well-being, and key to a happy, successful life. It is crucially important to know the area you live in and get out and active in the community! From personal testimony, I moved to Kamloops 3 months ago. Fresh out of Kelowna, I had no idea what was in my community living here other than being closely located to TRU. Since moving here, I have discovered a passion for hiking and being outdoors and Kamloops has been the perfect place to explore where I live! I notice that when I am having a rough day mentally, getting out and being active helps clear my head and calms me down. There is something to be said about getting out and being active, whether that is hiking the steep terrain of Battle Bluff or walking down the street from your house; it’s about finding something that you enjoy.
Studies have shown that exercising in a green and natural environment will increase your emotional well-being. By walking in a green environment you are receiving higher mental benefits, by providing a stress-free space with cleaner air and satisfying the psychological necessity of human interaction with nature.
Societal Benefits of Finding Your City
A big part of exploring your community is getting to know the people within it. Kamloops is not necessarily a busy and up pace city like Vancouver, however, it still has plenty to offer each member of the community. Kamloops provides many activities for both residents and visitors looking to meet people and feel included in the community. These activities include hiking, biking, skiing, and many other outdoor activities. If you are looking for something more relaxed or indoors, Kamloops has multiple coffee shops, bars, and big events like blazers games. In doing these activities you can meet new people, share experiences, and also spend time with those you care about.
The city of Kamloops is a very welcoming community and even just walking downtown you are guaranteed a smile from a passerby, something not as common in bigger cities. I know for many others and myself Covid-19 put a big damper on social interactions. Many people rely on face-to-face interactions for their well-being and in the past few years, these interactions have been very limited. School being back in person is huge for social interactions, especially at TRU. The university is by far the most diverse place in Kamloops. Walking around on campus or attending events you meet new connections from all around the world. Kamloops is a very welcoming community that is very involved in the nature around them. You should get outdoors, breathe some fresh air, and take in what Kamloops has to offer you.