The View that Heals

Photo by Arnaud Mesureur on Unsplash

Earlier this week we drove down to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee where we've been working from an Airbnb. My makeshift desk has been facing a large wall of windows overlooking a sea of trees. It is also where I have set up my yoga mat, which means every day I've been able to take some intentional time to not only stretch and reset my mind, but to do it with a setting that automatically puts me at peace.

Being here has made me think more about what does, and does not, put my mind at ease. For each of us those things may vary, but research has shown that for all of us spending just 20 minutes in nature "can help lower stress hormone levels." An analysis of several studies also found that "increased exposure to nature was associated with decreased salivary cortisol, state anxiety, self-reported stress, blood pressure, and heart rate variability, as well as increased restorative outcomes."

In other words, nature is a medically proven treatment we should all regularly prescribe to ourselves. While we may not all be able to work from Tennessee for two weeks surrounded by mountains (I realize I am incredibly privileged to be able to do this), we all can regularly go for walks around the neighborhood, read on a bench at a nearby park, or find an easy hike to take a stroll through the woods.

So this Sunday, I’m not offering a productivity hack or a mindset shift. I’m simply offering a reminder: peace is often closer than we think. It might be waiting just outside your front door, tucked into the rustle of leaves or the rhythm of your breath. Whether it’s five minutes or fifty, give yourself the gift of the outdoors. Your mind, and your body, will thank you.