Goal
Achieve inner peace and relaxation through immersion in nature 🌲
Problem
Finding a natural method to reduce stress and nervousness in our busy lives.
- Overstimulation from technology
- Lack of connection to the natural world
- Difficulty in quieting the mind
Solution
Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice that involves immersing oneself in nature to experience the therapeutic benefits.
In a nutshell:
- Find a nearby forest or natural area
- Leave behind distractions such as phones or music
- Walk slowly and quietly, paying attention to the sights, sounds, and smells
- Engage your senses fully by touching leaves, bark, or moss
- Find a quiet spot to sit, meditate, or breathe deeply and reflect
My Take
Forest Bathing is one of my favorites, even though it’s not easy to find time for it when you live in a big city. Note, it’s not just about being outdoors; there’s actually scientific evidence behind the calming effects of immersing yourself in nature. When a forest surrounds you, your mind and body experience some remarkable changes.
First, your senses are awakened by the natural world’s sights, sounds, and smells, which encourages you to be more present and mindful. Research has shown that the volatile organic compounds released by trees, known as phytoncides, directly impact our nervous system! They help lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone), reduce blood pressure, and increase the activity of natural killer cells that strengthen our immune system.
Additionally, the act of walking slowly and deliberately through the forest encourages deep, rhythmic breathing, which stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This “rest and digest” response slows your heart rate, relaxes your muscles, and promotes a sense of calm.
Compared to other relaxation methods, Forest Bathing simply offers an opportunity to connect with nature. As someone who spends a lot of time with his Macbook (👨💻) in my home office, I like that it allows you to reap the benefits of both physical and mental relaxation. Bundled with scientific facts, this is an ideal activity for me.
PROS
- No special equipment or training required
- Can be practiced alone or with others
- Increases mindfulness and awareness
- Boosts immune system function (so cool!)
CONS
- Weather-dependent (well, not really 😉)
- Accessibility to natural areas may be limited for some people
- Requires time commitment to experience benefits fully
INSIGHTS
Here are a few more thoughts:
- Prioritization: I invest in short sessions of 15-20 minutes if my schedule is tight. In my case, a nice park is just around the corner, so it’s easy for me.
- Grounding: I cannot think of many other activities that help me to step back in a world full of noise and hustle. Cities can be chaotic micro-universes that suck your energy. So, I really had to learn again that nature is critical for me, to escape the city regularly and to get into the forest. It’s that simple. But has massive impacts.
- Family time: For sessions in forests, I typically try to invite family members or good friends. To me, slow walks in forests can be a great opportunity to talk or just be together.
