Tree therapy
July 20, 2026
Hello Friend!
Here in Michigan we didn't do a lot of wandering around outside last week. Canadian wildfires sent horrible plumes of smoke our way, making the sky murky and the air smell like the worst stale campfire. And the heat and humidity sent real-feel temps over 100 degrees for several days in a row. Ugh. Basically we hid inside where the air was filtered and we did a fair share of grumbling.
But this morning I woke up to cool temps and much better skies, which sent me immediately out to walk my yard and garden with a cup of coffee in hand. I'd really missed the sounds of my trees, and the birds having a party at my birdfeeder. Standing in the backyard I could just feel my stress leaving. I needed this! It's amazing how much better I felt after just a few minutes.
Recently I read an article that reported proven benefits of spending time outside. Honestly I wasn't at all surprised, but some of the specific results after spending just 20-30 minutes outdoors were interesting. Here's what they found:
- Measurably reduced amounts of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline
- Lower inflammation and blood pressure
- Increases in the number and activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which is the immune system’s first line of defense against tumors and virus-infected cells
- Colors and patterns that allow the brain to rest.
- Encouragement to move
They even found that "touching wood, compared with tile, steel, or glass, reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region involved in planning, decision-making, and stress-related rumination." Nature forces you into the present moment and allows your thoughts to calm. How cool is that?! I already knew that taking a slow, aimless walk around my property always made me feel better, but I had no idea just how much I needed it.
Here's the link if you'd like to read the full article on "Forest Bathing". You'll love it. It'll make you want to go hug a tree!
