How Spending Time Outdoors Can Reset Your Mindset

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Some days, the noise of life is just… a lot.

Between raising a toddler, working from home, managing deadlines, and trying to squeeze in creativity and rest somewhere in the middle—it’s easy to feel stretched thin. The to-do list never really ends, the dishes multiply, and your brain forgets what stillness feels like.

But I’ve noticed something. On the days we spend more time outside—when my son is able to run in the grass or dig in the dirt just because he can—everything shifts. He sleeps better. I breathe easier. The world doesn’t feel so heavy.

I need sunlight like I need water.
(And we’re more like plants than we think—sunlight literally boosts serotonin, helping with mood, focus, and energy.)

It doesn’t really matter where you are. Whether it’s your own backyard, a local trail, or a mountaintop on the other side of the world—stepping outside changes things. It clears the static and draws you back to what matters. 

And when I do? I don’t just feel better.

I remember Who made it all in the first place.

Nature Slows You Down

Outdoors, everything moves at a different pace.
There’s no rush in a forest. No pressure in a wide-open meadow. Just breathing room.

Whether I’m walking trails with my toddler or wandering a quiet stretch of coastline on a trip, being outside naturally slows my mind and body, shifting me out of fight-or-flight mode and into presence. Being outside has the ability to ground us—not in the productivity sense, but in the soul sense.

Whether you’re hiking to Norway’s Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) or having a quiet porch moment, nature offers the pause we forget we need. It invites you to stop scrolling, stop rushing, and just… be.

You’re Designed for It

There’s a reason fresh air feels like a reset button.
Our bodies and minds were wired to respond to the natural world.

Time outside lowers cortisol levels, improves sleep, sharpens focus, and lifts your mood—Even a short walk in the park can help recalibrate your nervous system. You were made to move, to breathe deeply, to feel the sun on your skin and the wind at your back.

Whether you’re hiking through the Smokies, reading under a tree in your neighborhood park, or standing in awe at the edge of the Grand Canyon—your body remembers how to breathe out there.

Perspective Starts to Shift

It’s hard to obsess over your inbox or spiral into comparison when you’re staring up at the trees or walking beside a rushing river.

Nature expands your view—literally and spiritually.
You realize your worries aren’t the whole world. You remember that joy still exists, beauty still grows, and not everything needs an answer right now.

You don’t have to travel far for this shift, but travel often invites us into these spaces—a trail you’ve never walked, a country path lined with wildflowers, or a sunrise you had to wake up early for.

The world is wide. Let yourself remember that.

God Speaks Through Creation

For believers, getting outside isn’t just refreshing—it’s deeply spiritual. God can meet us anywhere—in the noise, in the stillness, in the everyday rush. But something shifts when we step outside and slow down. The distractions are quiet. Our eyes lift. Our hearts open.

Scripture reminds us again and again that creation is one of the ways God reveals Himself:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
—Psalm 19:1

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”
—Romans 1:20

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
—Psalm 96:11-12

There’s something sacred that happens when I slow down—whether it’s on the porch with a warm mug or walking through the woods, where the birds sing like a choir and deer graze just out of sight. In those moments, a holy hush settles over everything. A reminder that the world isn’t random—it’s intricately made. That beauty isn’t accidental—it’s intentional.

God speaks through Scripture, through people, and yes—through the world He created. When I take time to notice the way the light dances through the branches or how the breeze carries the scent of pine, I’m reminded of His nearness.
Not because He wasn’t there before—
but because I finally slowed down enough to feel it.

Travel Reminds Us to Go Outside

You don’t need to book a flight to find peace in nature—but sometimes, travel nudges us to remember how much we need it.

A morning walk through Amsterdam’s Vondelpark.
A hike in the Tetons with nothing but the sound of your footsteps.
A long drive through wild Scottish landscapes with the windows down..
These aren’t just pretty moments—they’re invitations to slow down and be human again.

The best trips aren’t always the most expensive or extravagant.
Sometimes, they’re just the ones where we got outside and actually felt the world again.

Final Thoughts: Step Into the Wonder

So next time you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in a mental rut, try this:
Close your laptop. Step outside. Take a walk—perhaps without your phone.
Let your senses wake up. Let the breeze shift your thoughts. Let the sky remind you it’s not all on your shoulders.

Because wherever you are—whether you're close to home or far from it—stepping outside is good for the soul.
It grounds you.
It grows you.
And it just might bring you closer to the One who made it all.

Have you ever had a moment outdoors that felt sacred or soul-shifting? I’d love to hear about it—share your story in the comments below.

Travel Well,