In today’s society, where burnout and the culture of constantly hustling prevail, it is becoming increasingly important to immerse ourselves in nature. Connecting with our biophilia – our natural affinity for the world around us – is incredibly empowering: Nature is not merely a place to relax, but also a place where we can restore, discover ourselves, and realign with our core values.
“We are still physiologically and psychologically adapted to nature,” says Amy Steadman, MSc, an eco-psychologist, therapist, and coach based in London. “We have spent 99.9 percent of human evolution living outside. As such, our minds and our bodies are still adapted to being in nature.”
Since the pandemic, our need for nature has exploded, with the outdoor economy following suit. According to a 2024 report from Statista, the global outdoor equipment market is projected to grow at 5.83 percent from 2024 to 2029, with the global hiking market set to reach $9.1 billion by 2028. Camping is skyrocketing, too. A 2024 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report from Kampgrounds of America reports the number of folks who consider themselves “active campers” has risen by 68 percent to 21 million.
Within this, new trends are emerging as more people swap manicured campsites with amenities (pre-built fire pits, outdoor plumbing, etc.) for an escape in more remote wild spaces via overlanding (car camping) or hiking into the backcountry. Winter camping has also increased, as more campers are bundling up and sleeping outside year-round, despite freezing temps and snow.
Folks are seeking new, creative ways to connect with nature, too, outside of traditional outdoor recreation. More travelers are interested in off-the-grid, “phone-free” experiences; from 2023 to 2024, global searches for “digital detox retreats” grew by 50 percent according to a report by the UK-based travel company, Unplugged. Other adventurers are booking last-minute getaways to quieter, more affordable “detour destinations,” or once-in-a-lifetime trips to see awe-inspiring phenomena, like the dark skies of Arches National Park or the 50-foot tides in the Bay of Fundy.
“There’s definitely been a massive increase in nature-based experiences that people want when they’re traveling, and I think that’s because most of us—4.4 billion of us—spend our time in cities,” says Steadman. “When we take time off, we want to spend our time in nature.”
But you don’t have to wait until your PTO kicks in to get outside. Steadman specializes in ecotherapy, a psychological approach that harnesses the natural world as a therapeutic tool. Each session, Steadman and her clients swap the traditional office or Zoom for a walk in the woods where she blends traditional psychology techniques with mindfulness and nature-inspired coaching. “We’ll start with some grounded breathing exercises and paying attention to our senses—doing some barefoot walking, and things like that— before going into deeper self-reflection work,” she says.
From there, Steadman will have her clients forage for an object that best reflects a goal or challenge they’re experiencing. Other times, she’ll have them walk her through an “internal weather forecast” where they describe their feelings with atmospheric conditions. “We are more expressive when we use something else to describe how we feel,” she explains. “And it’s a way therapeutically of unlocking what’s in your unconscious and subconscious.”
While exercises vary from session to session, Steadman’s goal is always the same: using nature to help people reflect, find perspective, and create meaningful change. And while she’s happy to coach folks to get there, she encourages folks to get outside on their own. “If you have an affinity for the outdoors, maybe try taking your therapy there, too,” she says. “No matter where you are on that mental health continuum, the research shows that nature can be the kind of answer for moving away from distress and further towards flourishing.”
Steadman offers five simple practices for integrating more nature into your daily life, so you can embrace nature no matter where you are.
1. Find your space
Find a nearby location with trees, sky, and a sense of safety and relaxation, such as a garden, local park, or woodland. Ideally, pick somewhere you can get to easily each day—this helps build a habit and connection to that specific place.
2. Practice mindful observation
Grab a journal and write down what you hear, or sketch what you see. “Too often we use nature as a place to get from Point A to Point B, or as a way of exercising,” Steadman says. “Engage mindfully with what’s in your surroundings and what you normally wouldn’t notice, like colors, textures, sounds, and scents.” It’s similar to paying attention to your breathwork during meditation, Steadman says. Only instead of concentrating on inhaling and exhaling, you’re concentrating on what’s around you, and being more present as an outcome.
3. Get grounded
Kick off your shoes and stand in the grass (if the weather permits, of course). Or, sit against a tree and run your hands along its roots—make sure you’re getting some skin contact with the dirt. This is called grounding or earthing, and while it sounds woo-woo, it’s scientifically proven to help you connect with Mother Earth.
“Earth has an electric charge of energy, [so when you’re grounding], you’re becoming a conductor for that electrical current,” Steadman says. This current has been linked to a range of wellness benefits, including reducing stress, improving sleep, and improving circulation. “It activates your vagus nerve and automatically sends the body into rest and digest mode.”
4. Ditch your phone
Treat your outdoor spot as a tech-free zone and consciously spend some time away from your phone. “I say to people swap screen time with green time, because having some time where you take some distance [from technology] from it will help you rethink the relationship that you have with your phone.”
5. Embrace the pace of nature
“I’ll ask my clients to walk at the pace of their thoughts, and most people break into a run,” says Steadman. “So then I’ll ask them to pause and take a look around at what’s going on in nature and shift to a pace that feels aligned with what they can see. And it doesn’t always mean [walking] very, very slow, but it always means deliberate.”
Nature has varying rhythms—sometimes it’s bustling with activity and other times it’s more serene and contemplative. Attuning yourself to your surroundings and recognizing the seasons of your own life can help foster a greater sense of individual well-being.
