Discover effective stress management techniques that harness the power of nature. This article presents insights from experts on how to find calm and balance in outdoor settings. Learn practical methods to reset your mind, recharge your body, and cultivate inner peace through simple nature-based practices.

  • Take a Mindful Walk in Nature
  • Practice Barefoot Breathwork for Instant Calm
  • Embrace Outdoor Yoga for Mind-Body Balance
  • Hike to Reset Your Mental State
  • Start Your Day with a Quiet Forest Walk
  • Surrender to Nature by Lying Still Outside
  • Watch the Sunrise to Reset Your Mind
  • Use Mindful Walks to Reground Yourself
  • Take Green Breaks to Recharge Daily
  • Escape Routine with Nature-Based Staycations

Take a Mindful Walk in Nature

It has long been known that nature has a powerful effect on our well-being, mood, productivity, and creativity. A recent 2019 Frontiers in Psychology study has shown that spending 20 minutes outdoors can lower cortisol levels (our stress hormone). In some countries, such as Japan, doctors even write their patients “nature prescriptions.”

Being out in nature also produces in us a profound sense of awe and wonder. Sunlight during the morning helps to regulate your body’s internal clock—helping you to feel more awake and alert, and to sleep better at night.

I love taking mindful walks where I put my phone in airplane mode and focus on my senses and surroundings. Things like the warmth of the sun or breeze on my skin, the birds chirping around me, and how the ground feels as I walk. To take a mindful walk, all you have to do is consciously unplug and notice the beauty of what’s around you.

Restorative rest doesn’t just happen, so it’s important to plan things in your calendar that spark calm or joy in you, like being out in nature. Remember, nature is the perfect therapy—and it’s free.

Pro Tip: Write yourself a nature prescription. Whether it’s gardening, walking your dog, taking a scenic hike, or enjoying lunch by the park, write a personalized prescription to yourself and then schedule that time into your calendar.

April LikinsApril Likins
Board-Certified Health Coach | Trained at Duke | Stress & Work-Life Balance Speciality, Wellness With April, LLC

Practice Barefoot Breathwork for Instant Calm

One technique that’s been a game-changer for me is what I call barefoot breathwork.

Wherever I am, jet-lagged in Singapore or decompressing in my backyard, I kick off my shoes, stand barefoot on natural ground, and do 4-5 minutes of slow, nasal breathing.

It sounds simple (because it is), but here’s the science-based magic: grounding on soil or grass can help reduce cortisol levels by allowing low-level electron transfer from the Earth’s surface, essentially providing anti-anxiety effects via physics. Pair that with breath-led parasympathetic activation, and you’ve got a portable reset button for your nervous system.

As someone balancing business, global travel, and parenting, this quick ritual brings me back to baseline fast. Nature doesn’t just calm me; it recalibrates my system. Real textures, real air, real time.

Murray SeatonMurray Seaton
Founder and CEO / Health & Fitness Entrepreneur, Hypervibe (Vibration Plates)

Embrace Outdoor Yoga for Mind-Body Balance

One of my favorite stress management techniques is practicing yoga outdoors. Whether I’m on a quiet beach, nestled in a peaceful park, or surrounded by the calming atmosphere of a garden, doing yoga in nature brings a profound sense of peace. The natural surroundings create an environment where I can truly tune into my body and mind. The gentle sounds of rustling leaves, the warmth of the sun, or the fresh air help deepen my focus and relaxation.

The combination of yoga and nature provides a powerful sense of balance. As I move through each pose, I synchronize my breath with the flow of the natural world around me. This connection helps me release tension from my body while quieting my mind. In these moments, I am reminded of the simplicity and beauty of the present, free from the distractions of everyday life.

Stretching and flowing in the open air not only calms my stress but also strengthens my body and boosts my mood. It’s an incredibly grounding experience that fosters both physical flexibility and emotional clarity. Nature amplifies the benefits of yoga, making it an essential part of my well-being routine. After a session outdoors, I feel recharged, centered, and better equipped to handle the challenges of daily life with a clearer, calmer mind.

Sujatha GerineniSujatha Gerineni
MD, AIM Primary Care

Hike to Reset Your Mental State

One stress management technique I swear by? Hiking. And I don’t mean some influencer-type trail selfie. I mean legitimately getting out there, putting my phone on Do Not Disturb, and walking until I can feel my shoulders drop and my head clear.

As someone running an addiction treatment center, I’m surrounded daily by heavy stories—loss, pain, trauma. You carry that stuff home with you, even when you don’t want to. So instead of pretending I’m invincible, I lean into something simple and grounding: trees, dirt, and silence.

There’s one trail just outside of Columbus I keep going back to. No cell signal. No traffic. Just birds, breeze, and my boots hitting the ground. I let my thoughts run wild for the first 20 minutes. After that, it’s like my nervous system finally gets the memo: You’re safe. You can breathe.

That time in nature resets me. It’s like a mental pressure valve. I come back sharper, calmer, and more present—not just for my team at Ridgeline, but for my family and myself. It’s also a reminder: life doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful.

Here’s the takeaway—burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Get outside. Get quiet. Let the trees teach you what the chaos can’t. Nature won’t fix your problems, but it will remind you of who you are without all the noise.

Andy DanecAndy Danec
Owner, Ridgeline Recovery LLC

Start Your Day with a Quiet Forest Walk

Running a remodeling and design firm means juggling multiple job sites, managing teams, and solving problems all day long. It can be mentally and physically exhausting. One technique that really helps me manage stress is taking early morning walks in a nearby wooded park. I don’t take calls or listen to anything. I just walk quietly and pay attention to the natural details around me. The light coming through the trees, the sound of leaves moving, and the smell of damp soil keep me grounded.

This makes a huge difference in how I approach the rest of the day. I come back with a clearer mind and a more patient attitude. It helps me shift from a reactive mindset to a more thoughtful one, which is critical when leading a team or making big design decisions. Being in nature also reminds me that good design often draws from natural patterns and elements. I get unexpected inspiration just by observing how colors and textures work together in the landscape.

Nature has a way of slowing your thoughts and putting things in perspective. It’s not just about stress relief. It also improves focus, creativity, and even how I interact with my clients and employees. For anyone working in a high-pressure role, I truly believe that spending even a small amount of intentional time outside can change the way you carry yourself through the day.

Kiel KellowKiel Kellow
Business Owner, Kellow Construction

Surrender to Nature by Lying Still Outside

When it comes to stress, here’s one way I connect with nature that surprises a lot of people:

I lie flat on the ground—face-up—completely still. No podcast, no book, no thoughts I’m trying to optimize. Just me, the sky, and the ground beneath me.

It sounds like nothing. But that’s exactly the point.

We live in a world where even nature has been gamified—10,000 steps, trail apps, sunrise selfies, you name it. So instead of “doing” nature, I try to let nature do something to me. I’ll find a quiet patch of grass or forest floor, lie down, and basically surrender. I let my nervous system recalibrate. I let gravity do its thing. I let my body remember it’s not just a floating brain with a to-do list.

It’s a weirdly primal reset. Your breath slows down without trying. The muscles you didn’t know you were clenching start to release. And you walk away feeling a kind of peace that no productivity hack can manufacture.

I do it weekly now, and it has completely reshaped how I define “rest.”

Derek PankaewDerek Pankaew
CEO & Founder, Listening.com

Watch the Sunrise to Reset Your Mind

On tough weeks, I step away from work and watch the sunrise on the beaches. That quiet moment, before the phones ring and emails come in, gives me the calm I need to reset. It is the one time of day when everything feels still and clear. Nature does not rush. It has no deadlines or noise. It teaches me to slow down, breathe, and let go of pressure.

Giving myself space early in the day helps me think better and prevents stress from building up. That small habit makes a big difference. It also helps me stay steady when work gets hard. I do not need a retreat or tech break. Sometimes, just sitting still with the rising sun is enough.

Ivan RodimushkinIvan Rodimushkin
Founder, CEO, XS Supply

Use Mindful Walks to Reground Yourself

I use mindful walks as a way to reground and calm myself when stressed. They allow me to connect with nature and to reconnect with the present moment. This practice quickly calms my mind, resets my nervous system, and boosts clarity, reminding me that I’m part of something bigger, which deeply enhances my overall well-being.

Kamini WoodKamini Wood
Certified Life Coach, Kamini Wood

Take Green Breaks to Recharge Daily

One thing I’ve found super helpful for managing stress is to take what I call ‘green breaks.’ Basically, every day, no matter how busy I get, I make it a point to step outside for a bit. It could just be a short walk in a nearby park or even sitting on a bench in a garden. Something about the fresh air and the sounds of nature, like birds chirping or leaves rustling, really helps clear my mind.

Spending time in nature isn’t just a way to escape from the chaos of daily life; it genuinely uplifts my mood and recharges my batteries. After even just a few minutes outdoors, I notice I am calmer and more centered, which makes it easier to tackle whatever tasks I have at hand. The key is making it a regular part of your routine. Trust me, it makes a real difference. So, give it a try and see how you feel after adding a bit of nature into your daily grind!

Alex CorniciAlex Cornici
Marketing & PR Coordinator, Feed Pic

Escape Routine with Nature-Based Staycations

Something I do to manage stress and connect with nature is to travel quite often. Even outside of bigger vacations, I will often spend a weekend doing a staycation at a nearby cabin rental, or I might go camping. This forces me to break from my routine, get outside, and spend more time unplugged – all of which help reduce stress.

Steve SchwabSteve Schwab
CEO, Casago