You know that feeling when life gets overwhelming—when your to-do list seems endless, and your brain just won’t stop spinning? I’ve been there more times than I can count. And while there are countless ways to recharge, there’s one thing I keep coming back to: going outside.
It’s not fancy or complicated, but it’s incredibly effective. Nature is like fry sauce (hear me out!). You know, that simple mix of ketchup and mayo that somehow becomes something magical? Nature works the same way—it’s an uncomplicated blend of fresh air, earthy scents, and the grounding touch of the wild. Somehow, being outside just makes everything better.
When we left our entire life behind in 2020 and drove away—into the metaphoric and literal woods—I started experiencing this miraculous “fry-sauce effect” firsthand. It wasn’t just a temporary escape; it was healing in ways I didn’t expect. And the more time I spent outside, the more I realized just how powerful nature’s medicine really is.
Here’s the wild truth: Nature doesn’t just help us feel better—it actually heals us, body and mind.
Dipping into that Sauce
1. Nature Heals
Did you know that spending time in nature can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, and even boost your immune system? Studies on the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, have revealed its incredible effects on physical and mental health. Exposure to natural environments lowers blood pressure, calms the nervous system, and elevates mood. Pretty amazing, right?
But I didn’t just read about this—I lived it.
Let’s flash back to 2020. It took us a while to actually get to the forest. At the time, I was still teaching online, sitting in our camper for hours, staring at that oh-so-familiar Brady Bunch grid of faces on Google Meet. In between classes, we were driving pell-mell across the country—4,000 miles from Oregon to Maine—covering ground as fast as we could.
Related Post: If you want the full story of how we left it all behind and headed into the wild, check out From Stressed to Squatched. 🌿
And then we arrived.
There I was, this city-born-and-bred girl, parked in a rustic North Maine Woods campground, fumbling with kindling for campfires and literally tripping over boulders jutting out from the dirt roads. But everything changed on June 11, 2020—an auspicious day. At 10 a.m. Eastern, I logged out of my school account for the last time, and for the first time in years, I had a chance to poke my nose outside.
Hours in front of a computer were traded for hours walking barefoot, soaking up the sun, and even climbing mountains. It was a 180-degree turnaround from inside to outside.
And then it happened.
Three months later, I realized something incredible: the shaking, trembling, and dread I’d been waking up with for years was gone. Absolutely gone. I remember standing there in disbelief, thinking, “Is this what not having a panic attack feels like? This is AWESOME!”
At the same time, the world was navigating the global SARS-CoV-2 virus. And while I did eventually get sick, battling it for about a month, I managed to fight it off with nothing more than rest, hydration, and nutrition…and LOTS of Vitamin D from sitting outside in the sun. I believe with my whole heart that soaking up nature’s medicine gave me the strength to recover and protect my body from what could have been a much worse outcome.
Since then? I can count on fewer than five fingers the number of times I’ve been sick.
The wild truth? Nature has the power to heal—not just emotionally, but physically, too.
(For the science enthusiasts: If you want to geek out on the research behind this, check out our free PDF download here or grab it at the end of this post!)
2. Nature Resets…
You know the drill: endless emails, constant notifications, and the blue glow of screens staring back at you day and night. It’s like being caught in a hamster wheel that never stops spinning. And while I love the freedom of remote work—creating content and coaching from anywhere—sometimes “anywhere” starts to feel like everywhere.
There was one trip that really brought this home for me. We’d been stuck behind our screens for weeks—working on projects, answering emails, and squinting into our computers from the cramped space of the camper. The dog was getting restless, we were getting irritable, and we both felt like we were just stuck and spinning our wheels, aimlessly and without purpose anymore.
Finally, we decided: enough. We packed up our camping (vs. glamping) gear and drove deeper into the wilderness, setting up camp at one of our favorite rustic spots high in the mountains of Eastern Oregon —no cell service, no distractions, just the crackle of the fire and the sound of the wind in the trees.
At first, it felt uncomfortable. My mind still raced with to-do lists and unfinished ideas, as if I could feel the notifications piling up in my inbox. But then, something shifted.
I watched our dog dart happily through the trees, blissfully unaware of the modern chaos we’d just escaped. We wandered aimlessly, searching for signs of Bigfoot—half-serious, half-hoping we’d stumble across something magical. I remember standing still in a clearing, surrounded by nothing but the hum of the forest, the sharp scent of pine needles, the distant call of a bird I didn’t recognize, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot, and feeling the tension melt out of my shoulders.
That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t just unplugging from my laptop—I was plugging into something bigger.
…to factory specs.
Nature has this way of resetting your brain, like closing out all those open browser tabs and starting fresh. You don’t have to “do” anything to feel it—just being outside, breathing deeply, and letting your senses soak up the wild is enough.
Three days later, when we returned to our camper, the fog in our minds had lifted. Ideas started flowing again, our energy felt lighter, and we remembered why we’d chosen this life in the first place: freedom, connection, and room to breathe. Not to mention the chance to hear Bigfoot howling in the distance…which we did…
To top it off, we weren’t just recharged—we were clear-headed and ready to make some brave new choices about our future.
The wild truth? Sometimes the best way to hit “reset” isn’t by escaping to a tropical spa or binge-watching Netflix—it’s getting outside, stepping into the woods, letting go of the noise, and rediscovering the clarity you didn’t even know you’d lost.
3. Nature Inspires…
There’s something magical about nature that invites us to slow down and see the world—and ourselves—through new eyes. But let me tell you, I didn’t fully understand that magic until I found myself staring up at Mt. Katahdin in Northern Maine.
I’d never climbed a mountain before, not really. But this time felt different. It was our anniversary, and I wanted to celebrate by doing something that had always been out of reach. I’d lost a significant amount of weight that year, and for the first time in ages, I felt like my body could do things—big things.
It was also a chance to re-live our honeymoon, 23 years earlier, when we’d gone camping and “mountain climbing” for the first time. And by “climbing,” I mean Scot nearly had to carry me down the mountain after I dramatically realized that my attempt to be a nature girl might have been, well, premature.
So, there I was, years later, at the base of this real mountain—wind in my hair, boots laced tight—feeling a mix of excitement, fear, and disbelief. Could I actually do this?
…to make the climb.
We started the climb, and for the first time in years, I felt like a kid again. I was scrambling over boulders, splashing across creeks, laughing breathlessly at the absurdity of it all, and marveling at how the higher we climbed, the quieter the world seemed to become. It wasn’t just the physical challenge that felt so freeing; it was the wonder. The kind of wonder that makes you stop mid-step to gape at a view you’ve never seen before. (I thought I could see the entire state of Maine from up there!) The kind of wonder that humbles you and fills you up all at once.
And here’s the thing: climbing that mountain wasn’t about proving something to myself, though I did. It was about rediscovering joy—real, childlike joy—in the act of play. At some point along the climb, I realized I wasn’t just reaching for the summit; I was reaching for a part of myself I thought I’d lost.
Did I reach the summit? Nope. But I made it above the treeline, and let me tell you—I nearly cried with joy, pride, and exhilaration as the setting sun told us it was time to turn back. When we finally descended (on my own two legs this time!), I felt something shift inside me. Nature had reminded me how to play again. To laugh, to marvel, to feel pride in my body and gratitude for my life.
And that sense of wonder? It hasn’t left me since.
The wild truth? Nature doesn’t just show us beauty—it invites and inspires us to play in it. To splash in creeks, climb mountains (even if they feel a little ridiculous), and remember what it’s like to feel fully alive. But we will only experience that if we take the initiative to unplug and go outside!
4. Nature Connects…
When we first drove away in 2020, we had every intention of keeping to ourselves. Public life had made it hard to know friend from foe, and the safest plan seemed to be sticking to our own little circle—just the two of us (and the dog).
But when we arrived at that rustic Maine campground, something unexpected happened. We met people—wonderful, kind, and genuine people—who reminded us what real connection feels like. Some of those strangers even turned out to be distant family we never knew existed, as if the wild itself had been conspiring to reconnect us.
Over evening campfires, we swapped stories. Over morning coffee, we shared laughs. And through ATV rides that bumped us deep into the wilderness, we grew to love these new friends as though we’d known them forever.
Here’s the funny thing about stepping outside, especially into the wild backwoods: it strips away pretenses. Out there, it doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you do; it’s about who you are in that moment. And in that space, something else happened—we started rediscovering each other, too.
Our marriage, which once felt fragile and troubled, began to heal. Maybe it’s because we had no choice but to rely on each other—when you’re climbing a mountain or blazing a trail on rough terrain, trust becomes non-negotiable (and let’s be real, it’s a great metaphor for marriage). Helping each other not literally fall off a mountain has a way of building a kind of trust that feels unshakable. We learned to lean on each other in ways we hadn’t before, and slowly, we grew into a partnership that was deeper and more resilient than we ever thought possible.
…and connects, and connect…
And the connections didn’t stop there. Those campfire friendships planted a seed. We started sharing our Bigfoot adventures with our growing community, hosting meetups across the country and inviting others (not limited to the USA!) into this wild life we love so much. What began as a desire to escape the
noise of public life turned into something we never expected: a network of incredible people who inspire us, challenge us, and remind us that life is richer when we share it.
The wild truth? Nature doesn’t just help you find yourself—it helps you find your people. Whether it’s through shared laughter on an ATV trail, quiet moments around a fire, or supporting each other up a steep climb, the connections forged in outside four walls are some of the most genuine and lasting ones you’ll ever make.
Tips to Bring the Wild Into Your Life
You don’t have to climb mountains or wander deep into the wilderness to feel the magic of nature (though I highly recommend it at least once!). Here are a few simple ways to start reconnecting with the wild:
- Start Small: You’d be amazed at how restorative even 10 minutes outside can be. Take a walk in the park, sit under a tree, or let the sun warm your face while you sip your morning coffee. Small moments count.
- Go Barefoot: Kick off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. Grass, dirt, sand—it’s grounding, both literally and figuratively. It’s called earthing, and trust me, it’s worth a try. (And to kick it up a notch? Lay down on grass and feel that energy soak up, right into your spine.)
- Tune In: Put the phone away (yes, really). Close your eyes and listen to the wind in the trees. Notice the scents in the air, the rhythm of your footsteps, or the way the sunlight hits the leaves. Let yourself be there.
- Try Forest Bathing: Find a quiet trail, a patch of woods, or even a nearby nature reserve and just wander. No agenda, no destination—just let yourself soak it all in. It’s surprisingly freeing.
- Make It a Habit: Nature is the kind of medicine that works best when you take it regularly. Even short, consistent visits to the wild can work wonders for your mind, body, and soul.
The Path Back to Yourself: Go Outside
Reconnecting with nature isn’t just about self-care; it’s about reclaiming a piece of yourself that’s been buried under all the noise of modern life. It’s about remembering that you’re part of something bigger—a world that doesn’t need your to-do list, your deadlines, or your notifications to keep spinning.
So, here’s your invitation: step outside. Breathe deeply. Listen for the whisper of the wind or the call of a far-off bird. Let yourself soak in the magic that’s been waiting for you all along.
Go ahead. Take that first step. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to rediscover.
Because here’s the wild truth: nature is like fry sauce—simple, timeless, and greater than the sum of its parts. It heals, it inspires, it transforms…without the extra fry sauce calories.
Want to dig deeper into the science? Download our free resource, “Nature’s Healing Power,” packed with research and insights to inspire your next adventure into the wild.
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