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Have you ever wondered why your mind suddenly feels unburdened in the presence of trees? Or why the ocean so effortlessly lulls you into an almost meditative state? Outdoor spaces are scientifically proven to soothe the nervous system—and quickly.
Think about it: Forests ground you. Mountains lift you. Water opens you. Jungles awaken you. Even sitting in a park beneath a tree restores you.
Still, despite these truths, we exist in an era of indoor living. The average American spends approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, and we’re increasingly glued to screens that consume hours of our valuable time and are known to induce stress reactions and deplete mental reserves.
Natural environments, on the other hand, have been found to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping us feel calm while offering a physiological reset—and it turns out that different landscapes positively impact well-being in different ways.
Getting Outside Is Relative
But don’t worry, urbanites. You don’t need to leave the city to feel the effects of nature. According to Lindsay McCunn, PhD, professor of Psychology at Vancouver Island University, and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Environmental Psychology, any experience of nature, not just its size or scale, is beneficial.
“Environmental psychology research shows that green spaces on a smaller scale, such as a tree-lined street, a neighbourhood park, or a rooftop garden, can yield restorative benefits,” says McCunn. “They also play a critical role in social health, with access to green space being linked to stronger community ties, lower rates of depression, and greater resilience.”
McCunn adds that even simulated nature, depicted in things like artwork, photos, and video footage, can provide modest benefits. Still, if you can access wilder parts of the world, soaking it up in person is advisable. Whether the rhythmic pull of the tide, the still hush of a desert plain, or the sensory abundance of the rainforest, each natural environment speaks a different language and affects us in distinct ways—reducing our heart rate, shifting our mood, and returning us to a more balanced state.
5 Outdoor Spaces That Calm You Down (And Why)
From lush forests to awe-inspiring mountains, these outdoor spaces encourage humans to chill out, naturally.
1. Forests
Forest bathing can boost immunity and provide the body with a hormonal reset. After just two days in a forest, participants showed a 50 percent increase in natural killer cell activity—a key part of immune defense—as well as a reduction in stress hormones.
“Dappled light, the scent of soil, the rustle of leaves—all of these elements engage what psychologists call ‘soft fascination,’ gently holding our attention without overstimulating it,” says neuroscientist Karina Del Punta, PhD, founder of neuroXnature.
This mental pause allows our prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for planning and decision-making) to rest, reducing mental fatigue and supporting emotional regulation, notes Del Punta. She explains that from an evolutionary perspective, forests offered our ancestors food, shelter and safety, so it makes sense that our bodies still respond with a sense of ease under the forest’s tree canopy.
“Green spaces play a key role in supporting our psychological, physiological, and social well-being,” says McCunn. McCunn highlights how the multisensory aspects of nature, such as the sounds of birds, as well as the visual complexity and fractal, or repeating, patterns of vegetation can minimize cognitive load and aid in mindfulness.
2. Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers
The ocean has a way of calming even the most restless of minds, inviting you to think a little less, breathe a little more slowly, and release what’s weighing on you. “Blue mind” is the term coined by the late marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols to describe the semi-meditative state induced by being in or near water.
Del Punta describes it as a gentle, open awareness marked by creativity, emotional release, and calm. “At a symbolic level, water mirrors our emotional landscape—constantly shifting, flowing, and offering space for release and renewal,” says Del Punta. “Being near it often feels like being closer to our own depths. Even just looking at water can lower heart rate and blood pressure, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs rest and digestion.”
A mere two minutes of watching water has been shown to result in relaxation. One study on the psychological response to water sounds found that within just one minute of listening to spring water sounds, participants’ negative emotions decreased up to 67 percent and restorative well-being scores nearly doubled.
The sight and sound of moving water in “blue” environments such as coastlines, rivers, and lakes provide the same soft fascination experienced in green spaces by allowing the mind to wander and recover from cognitive fatigue without being overstimulated, explains McCunn.
McCunn stresses that it’s important to remember that personal and cultural associations play a role in how individuals respond to water in an environment. “For some, water can evoke positive memories or connections that may augment water’s mood-regulating effects,” she says. “However, for others, water may also evoke unpleasant thoughts or worries, based on prior experiences.”
3. Mountains
Occupying roughly a quarter of our planet and featuring summits that reach staggering heights, mountain ranges never cease to stop us in our tracks and take our breath away, a response known as “awe.” Research shows this powerful state of mindfulness can dampen the body’s stress response and change how we process information.
It also shatters expectations and quiets the ego, according to Del Punta. “Mountain environments expand our view, literally and metaphorically, and the wide-open perspective resets mental clutter and can recalibrate our sense of purpose and scale,” she says.
One field study compared hikers at a mountain top versus the bottom and found that summit hikers not only had significantly greater feelings of awe but an increased perception of time abundance, higher openness to learning, and greater experiential creativity.
Beyond its psychological benefits, time spent at higher altitudes also prompts physiological adaptations, such as improved oxygen regulation, circulation, endurance, and resilience, according to Del Punta. She adds that evolutionarily, vantage points gave our ancestors a survival edge. “Psychologically, they offer us clarity and orientation,” she says. They also reconnect us to something larger—vast, ancient, and enduring. “In their presence, we remember how small we are, and strangely, how whole,” says Del Punta.
4. Desert
Many people would consider desert landscapes harsh, lifeless, and unwelcoming. But Del Punta notes that sparseness can be a balm for busy minds.
“With their sparse terrain and vast silence, deserts strip everything down to essence, offering an environment nearly free of distraction,” says Del Punta. This reduction in sensory input can promote deep introspection and emotional clarity. Deserts also amplify interoception—our ability to sense and interpret inner bodily signals—and invite stillness and reflection.
In her book Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us, author Emma Loewe discusses how the expansive desert horizon inspires creative problem solving and gives way to spacious ideas. Loewe points to research, noting that when people attempt to solve problems, their eyes naturally gravitate to blank spaces, a visual tick to minimize outward distraction.
In comparing urban, green, and desert (aka “brown”) environments, desert walks were found to deliver stress reduction and comfort levels equivalent to green space walks. Even virtual desert visuals activated physiological pathways of calm. A study found that 10-minute VR exposures triggered reductions in cortisol and blood pressure on par with green environments, supporting the genuine nervous-system restoration that desert spaces offer.
5. Rainforest
In stark contrast to the minimalism of the desert, rainforests are bursting with life. These biologically rich environments flood the senses in sound, color, movement, and scent.
“This sensory abundance stimulates the brain, awakening curiosity, presence, and emotional vibrancy,” says Del Punta. “In an environment that pulses with life, we’re reminded of our own aliveness—untamed, embodied, and deeply connected to the wild world.”
Exposure to these complex ecosystems supports mental well-being and has been associated with higher psychological resilience, and greater emotional engagement.
Jane Goodall famously referred to rainforests as her “temple.” For her, the power of the landscapes is best understood by spending time within them. “For those who have experienced the joy of being alone with nature there is really little need for me to say much more,” she reportedly said. “For those who have not, no words of mine can ever describe the powerful, almost mystical knowledge of beauty and eternity that come, suddenly, and all unexpected.”
