From Chaos to Calm: Why I Started Spending More Time Outside

Discover how spending time in nature reduces stress, calms your mind, and restores balance; backed by science and one woman’s healing journey.

The following is a guest post from my bloggy friend Harley Grandone. Interested in having a guest post on my website? Click here for my guest post submission form.

As a child, I spent nearly every moment outdoors—barefoot in the grass, hands in the dirt, soaking in the quiet energy of the trees, wind, and earth. Nature wasn’t just where I played; it was where I felt most alive.

But life has a way of pulling us away from what grounds us. Between raising my daughter, working long hours as a landscape designer, and carrying the weight of daily responsibilities, I slowly lost that connection. 

After my husband passed, the days blurred into a cycle of obligation and exhaustion. Even though I was outside, designing outdoor spaces for others, I had stopped showing up for myself. I realized what I was missing—the grounding calm that only nature provides. 

So I started meeting up with nature again. At night, when the world is quiet, I step outside, walk on the grass barefoot, hug my old sycamore tree, sit on the porch, and listen to the cicadas. My body softens, my thoughts slow, and I feel like myself again.

How Nature Gently Heals Us 

Ask yourself this: How often do I truly stop to breathe and just be? Probably not often, and probably not enough. 

Being outside has a way of pulling us into the present moment, freeing us from yesterday’s worries and future anxieties. The peace we feel outdoors isn’t just poetic – it’s backed by science.

What Happens to Your Body When We Spend Time Outside 

Our outdoor environment affects our well-being. When we spend time in nature, our bodies respond immediately. Just 20 minutes outdoors can significantly lower levels of cortisol – the hormone linked to stress and anxiety. 

Research also shows that time outside can lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate, and even strengthen the immune system. Exposure to natural light helps regulate the body’s internal clock, leading to better sleep and improved mood.

These simple biological shifts explain why a short walk through a park or a few minutes standing in the grass can reset your whole system, grounding you in calm and quiet strength.

How Nature Restores a Tired Mind

Mentally, nature gives our overworked minds (mental fatigue) the break they crave. It’s a safe space to let our guard down in a world that constantly demands our attention — from screens, notifications, and endless to-do lists. 

Additionally, nature provides a soft fascination, characterized by an effortless focus on soothing sights and sounds, such as the rhythm of the ocean’s waves or the rustling of leaves. This idea, known as Attention Restoration Theory (ART), explains why being in nature can help us think more clearly, improve memory, and enhance creativity. It’s the brain’s version of deep rest, without ever closing your eyes. 

According to environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, the most restorative settings share four key qualities: 

• Being Away: They offer a mental and physical escape from daily routines and responsibilities.
• Extent: They have a sense of space and coherence that allows their mind to wander freely.
• Soft Fascination: Their beauty holds your attention effortlessly, without mental strain.
• Compatibility: They feel right to you, and you want to be there.

Even something as simple as listening to the birds, feeling the breeze on your face, and watching the stars can help quiet the mind.

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World 

In nature, chaos gives way to simplicity. The endless mental chatter, those looping thoughts that steal our calm, called rumination, begins to fade. As the mind softens, your awareness returns to the rhythm of your breath, and with each exhale, peace gently settles in.

This combination of physiological calm and mental restoration boosts the feel-good chemicals called serotonin and dopamine, bringing us back in balance with both our body and mind. 

Where Stillness Lives

It’s no wonder that spending more time outdoors leaves us feeling more centered, more peaceful, and more ourselves, as we’re able to hear our inner voice. So when life feels chaotic again, I know exactly where I’ll be. Outside. Barefoot. Beneath the stars and back to calm.

About the Author Harley Grandone

Harley Grandone is a writer and landscape designer with 20+ years of experience. In her free time, she enjoys completing DIY home projects and having fun with her family in the Philadelphia suburbs.