There are places that leave a mark on us. It’s not through drama or spectacle, but through their quiet, persistent ability to heal. I recently returned from a trip to SouthernItaly where I visited at least five different beaches along the coast before the main tourist season began. The experience was more than beautiful. It was profoundly therapeutic. The stunning colors of the water, the solitude, the rhythmic crashing of the
waves, and the simple act of lying on a blanket on warm (sometimes cold depending on the clouds) sand became a balm for my body and spirit.

As I breathed in the salty air and listened to the wind sweeping across the shoreline, I remembered that time in nature isn’t just a luxury. It’s a necessity.

The Science Behind Nature’s Healing
Research increasingly supports what many of us intuitively know; being in nature is good for us. Studies show that time spent outdoors can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, enhance mood, improve sleep, and even boost immune functioning (Frumkin et al., 2017). In one meta-analysis, exposure to green spaces was associated with lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and better overall mental health (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018).

But it’s not just green spaces that are healing. Blue spaces, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes, offer uniquely soothing benefits. Research has shown that proximity to water can significantly reduce psychological distress and improve well-being (White et al., 2010). There’s something about the sound of waves, the vastness of the horizon, and the color
palette of sea and sky that resets our nervous system in ways a screen or city park simply can’t.

Immersion in the Senses
In Italy, each beach I visited offered its own version of serenity. The Adriatic and Ionian Seas unfolded in every imaginable shade of blue, from deep sapphire to translucent turquoise. The beaches were nearly empty, as we had arrived just before the high season. That solitude was a gift. I would lay my blanket down and let myself fully arrive, not just physically, but emotionally. 

Lying on the warm sand, I allowed the rhythms of the natural world to wash over me. I listened to the crashing waves and the way the wind played through nearby grasses and cliffs. I inhaled deeply, noticing the scent of salt, wildflowers, and the faint trace of
sunscreen and gelato. I let the textures of the experience ground me, the grainy warmth of the sand between my fingers, the warmth of the sun across my body.

This was not passive relaxation. It was full sensory immersion. And that’s part of what makes nature so healing. Mindfulness, often cultivated through formal practices, arises naturally in wild and beautiful places. As my senses awakened, I noticed my thoughts slowing down. The internal to-do list quieted. My body softened.

Restoration and Awe
One of the most studied psychological benefits of nature is what researchers call “attention restoration theory” (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989). According to this theory, our brains, which are constantly bombarded by screens, noise, and multitasking, enter a kind of cognitive fatigue. Natural environments, with their soft fascination (think the
movement of water, the rustling of leaves), allow our directed attention to rest and recover.

I felt this restoration vividly on those beaches. I wasn’t checking my phone or organizing anything or managing a situation. I was simply being. And in that simplicity awe emerged. The kind of awe that make you feel small in the best possible way. The kind that gently rearranges your sense of what truly matters.

Awe isn’t just poetic. It has proven therapeutic benefits. Studies show that
experiencing awe can reduce stress, expand our sense of time, and even increase prosocial behaviors like kindness and generosity (Stellar et al, 2015). When I looked out at the endless stretch of ocean or watched the sun sinking low behind white limestone cliffs, I felt connected to something larger than myself.

Space for Reflection and Renewal
Nature not only soothes. It also offers space for reflection. On those beach days, with time unstructured and open, I found myself thinking about things that have been tucked away. Big questions surfaced quietly: What am I being called to do? What am I being called to let go of? Where do I want to grow? What beauty am I missing in my day-to-day?

In a culture that often emphasizes productivity and performance, nature gives us permission to slow down. To feel. To notice. To come home to ourselves.

After several days of this kind of immersion, I felt renewed. Not in a flashy,
Instagrammable way, but in a deep nervous system kind of way. My sleep improved. My sense of humor returned. My energy lifted. And I felt grateful, not just for Italy’s beaches, but for the reminder that healing is often simpler than we think. It’s not about doing more. It’s about finding space to simply be.

Bringing Nature Home

Of course, we can’t always fly to Southern Italy. But the therapeutic benefits of nature are accessible almost anywhere. A quiet morning walk in the park. Sitting by or walking along the Boise River. Lying in the grass in your backyard. Even five minutes of intentional time outdoors can shift your mood and bring clarity.

Here are a few simple ways to bring nature’s therapy into your life no matter where you are:

 Take a sensory walk: Pay attention to what you hear, see, smell, and feel.
 Sit under a tree: Let yourself rest and breathe. Set a timer for 10 minutes and just be.
 Journal in nature: Let the landscape around your guide your thoughts. Ask yourself: What is blooming within me? What am I ready to release?
 Watch the sky: Clouds, stars, changing light. Nature’s “big screen” is always showing.

A Final Word
My time on those empty beaches in Southern Italy reminded me that nature is not a backdrop to our lives. It is an active participant in our healing. Whether we are recovering from stress, grieving a loss, or simply trying to stay centered in a chaotic world, the natural world offers itself freely and without judgment. Theres’s something profoundly reassuring about that. 

As I lay there on the sand, soaking in the wind, water, clouds, and sun, I didn’t have to be anything other than present. And in that presence, I found not just relaxation, but restoration. Not just beauty but belonging.

So, wherever you are, I hope you’ll seek out a place of wildness, even if it’s just a patch of green or sliver of sky. Let it remind you of your place in the larger rhythm of life. Let it whisper that healing is possible. And let yourself fall in love again and again, with the earth beneath your feet.

References
 Frumkin, H., et al. (2017). Nature contact and human health; A research agenda. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(7), 075001.
 Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors; A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental
Research, 166, 628-637.
 White, M.P., et al. (2010). Coastal proximity, health and well-being; Results from a longitudinal panel survey. Health & Place, 16(6), 1103-1110.
 Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press.

 Stellar, J.E., et al (2015). Awe and humility: Psychological benefits of awe in prompting prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883-899.