Grounding in Nature: How Forest Bathing and Barefoot Time Reset the Nervous System

Last week, my daughter and I escaped to a small cabin in the woods. It wasn’t rugged camping—more like glamping. A warm bed, a stream out back and birds overhead. We walked barefoot on soft grass and breathed in air that smelled like pine and earth.

And slowly, something in me shifted.

I talk often with my clients about the benefits of nature for mental health. We live in a world where so many of us are burnt out, anxious, and disconnected from our bodies. But nature offers us a powerful reset.

There’s solid science behind it. Time outside helps reduce cortisol, the primary stress hormone that keeps us in fight-or-flight mode. Even a short walk among trees—what the Japanese call forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku)—can regulate the nervous system and lower blood pressure. You don’t need hours in the woods. Just 20 mindful minutes in nature has been shown to boost dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s feel-good chemicals.

Last week, I noticed how we were more playful; we laughed, we rested, we looked up at the sky. No screens. Just the forest, gently holding us. It reminded me how grounding techniques for anxiety don’t have to be complex. Sometimes it’s as simple as walking barefoot on the earth—a practice often called earthing or barefoot grounding.

You don’t need a cabin in the forest to experience the healing effects of nature. A mindful pause outside. A gentle walk by the ocean. Even five deep breaths under a tree can help your body shift from stress into calm.

I work with clients every day who are longing to feel more grounded, more connected, and more present. Whether through somatic therapy, energy healing, or holistic coaching, we begin with practices that bring you back to yourself—and nature is one of the best teachers we have.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or anxious, let nature help you reset. And if you’re ready for deeper support, I’d love to walk that path with you.