Jamie Lynn Langley, LCSW

05/02/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 💚

Little things can add up! Getting outside is one of my favorite things, and this is such a great month to do so. Here are some great daily suggestions- choose the ones that feel good.

I began by setting my intention yesterday on trying to follow all that I can as a great way to begin this special month. Today calls for enjoying a scenic walk. This I can definitely do! 🌿

05/01/2026

Welcome May! I am ready to take some time to stop and smell the roses. 🌹

As my academic school year transitions to some time off from teaching over the summer, I am looking forward for this month to be less rushing and more noticing. Starting today. Happy May Day. 🩵

04/28/2026

May we never underestimate the power of kind words.

Today was my final day of class this semester. (Several days of grading ahead before our summer break.) I received such sweet notes from a few of my students. I truly was in tears as I read them. 💗

I cannot say how much I love my students. Getting to teach them to be part of our social work profession and to help others brings me so much joy. ✨

04/27/2026

I so enjoyed this EmpowHer event last year. I love working with middle schoolers, and this was such a fun way to do so. Like many things, the earlier we learn to implement self-care, the better. 💖

04/26/2026

Nature Play Week and Earth Day were great to share about this week. Now that it is Sunday, often thought of as a day of rest but not always practiced, it is good to remind ourselves that we do need rest. It is not always easy in the busy world we live in. Sunday is especially great to enjoy this time of rest before the new work/school week begins.

We can rest during and after play to take a pause, reset and even contemplate our next playful adventure in nature. This can also be a time to refuel by enjoying a picnic, to connect with others, or to make an entry in a nature journal. It’s always fun to see how excited children get about a picnic, enjoying time with their families while being nourished and taking some time to rest. Teens often like to draw or take pictures of nature for their journals. And an afternoon nap outside in a hammock is a peaceful way to have a retreat enjoying the nearby nature of a backyard.

Going for a walk in the woods and finding a place to rest to fully immerse in nature is called Forest Bathing. It a practice which began in Japan, and is one of my favorite things to do when out in nature. So yes- you can go “bathe” in the forest!

Cultivate a practice of having a favorite “sit spot” in nature. Resting against the trunk of a tree is so restorative and grounding! Once seated you can be enveloped in the amazing sights, sounds, feels and smells to fully engage your senses which is incredibly calming. You can return time and again to a favorite nature sit spot, to rest and to notice, and then resume nature play when ready.

Be still… 🩵

04/24/2026

From Earth Day on Wednesday to Arbor Day today! Let’s enjoy this wonderful nature for our well-being, and do what we can to help hers as well. 🩵 🌎 💚

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! May we all get outside to enjoy the gifts we receive from nature as a way to celebrate today and every day!

The newest research has found that as little as 3 minutes outside helps us have a mental and cognitive reset! This adds to previous findings that sitting outside for 5 minutes can reduce stress and improve mood. 20 minutes a day six days a week significantly reduces cortisol.

We need nature and nature needs us.

Spending time in nature helps us want to do more to care for nature.

We have a beautiful world to enjoy. 💚🌎💙

04/21/2026

I love it when our students get to play and create as they “pause and connect” each month. It was especially fun today as my students asked me to join them! Today we made beautiful flowers! 🌸

04/21/2026

As both Nature Play Week and Earth Week continue, I want to include that nature helps us to not only be wild, but also to be mild.

There are many playful activities that can be done in nature that involve focus and concentration. Give a child or teen a magnifying glass or a pair of binoculars and they will be so intent! Add in a camera for even more focused fun!

They don't realize they are building important executive function skills while playing - which makes all of these nature play activities even better! 💚

04/20/2026

A Sunday early evening walk with my husband before going out to dinner is not a bad way to begin the end of the weekend- and to finish the 10-day Spring Reset by Healthy Parks Healthy Person TN. Nature Play Week continues and Earth Week is also now here. Earth Day is in three days.

This is a great time to be a lover and protecter of nature. The more intentional we are about our time in nature, the more benefits we receive.

Having a goal to get outside and follow the prompts each day was inspiring. The Spring Reset worked! 🌺

04/19/2026

There are so many benefits to nature play! 💚

It's true -- When kids are free to get messy, curious, and a little wild in nature, something magical happens—real learning, creativity, and joy take root.

Let them play!

04/18/2026

Self-Care webinar coming up in May for only $15. The link to register is below:

https://secure.touchnet.com/C20134_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1778