The Allure of Returning to Nature: Finding Your Way Back to the Wild

Key-terms

Nature connectedness: A felt sense of emotional, spiritual, and cognitive connection to the natural world around you.

Green space: Outdoor areas with living plants and trees, such as parks, forests, gardens, or fields.

Ecotherapy: A broad term for practices that use time in nature as part of supporting mental and emotional wellbeing.

Forest bathing: A slow, mindful way of walking or resting in a forest, paying attention to sounds, scents, and textures.

The allure of returning to nature

Many people feel a quiet pull back toward the land: to move more slowly, breathe more deeply, and live closer to the rhythms of sunrise, seasons, soil, and weather. That longing may show up as a dream of a homestead, an off-grid cabin, or simply a tiny balcony garden straining toward the light.

Psychologists and health researchers note that humans evolved in natural environments, and our bodies and minds still respond powerfully to them.American Psychological Association – Monitor Time in green spaces has been linked with improved mood, better attention, and lower stress.Yale Environment 360 – Yale School of the EnvironmentEnvironmental Health Perspectives – NCBI That may be one reason the idea of “going back to nature” feels less like a trend and more like a remembering.

“There is mounting evidence that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well-being.” – Lisa Nisbet, PhD, psychologist and nature researcher (quoted by the American Psychological Association).

In one large study of thousands of adults, people who spent at least about two hours each week in green spaces reported better health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who spent less time outdoors.Yale Environment 360 – Yale School of the Environment That is the quiet power behind the homestead dream: not just a different address, but a different nervous system.

Context-and-common-issues

The romance of returning to nature often collides with the realities of modern life. Understanding that tension can make your own path back to the wild feel kinder and more sustainable.

Why nature feels like home

Research suggests that even brief contact with nature may:

• Improve mood and reduce feelings of stress or angerMind – Nature and Mental HealthAmerican Heart Association – Spend Time in Nature
• Support attention, focus, and cognitive functionEnvironmental Health Perspectives – NCBIAmerican Psychological Association – Monitor
• Lower markers of physiological stress, like cortisol, in some studiesEnvironmental Health Perspectives – NCBI
• Encourage physical movement and outdoor activity, which may support heart and metabolic healthEnvironmental Health Perspectives – NCBIAmerican Heart Association – Spend Time in Nature
• Increase feelings of calm, joy, and creativityMental Health Foundation – Nature and Mental Health

The Mental Health Foundation notes that people who feel more connected to nature tend to report higher life satisfaction and lower levels of depression and anxiety.Mental Health Foundation – Nature and Mental Health

That sense of connection can come from big landscapes or small moments: the scent of rain on soil, the weight of a garden trowel in your hand, the sound of geese shifting in the sky.

Modern-life-vs-natural-rhythms

Most people live in ways that blur or block natural rhythms. Electric light stretches the day; screens pull us indoors; work and social pressures keep us running at a constant pace.

This can leave many of us feeling:

• Mentally overstimulated but physically under-moved
• Emotionally disconnected from ourselves and others
• Spiritually hungry for quiet, meaning, and belonging

A full homestead leap is one response. But you do not need a remote cabin to begin. You may be able to reclaim pieces of wildness in the life you already have.

A-gentle-framework-for-returning-to-nature

Instead of treating “returning to nature” as an all-or-nothing move, you may find it more helpful to see it as a layered practice. The framework below moves from simple contact to deeper commitment.

Step-1-rekindle-simple-contact

Start with small, low-pressure ways to be outside, letting your body remember that nature is a place of relative safety and rest.

• Create a weekly green ritual. Aim for roughly two hours total outdoors in green spaces across the week, spread over several short visits if needed, such as daily walks in a park or regular time in a garden.Yale Environment 360 – Yale School of the Environment
• Use all your senses. Notice air on your skin, the smell of leaves, the texture of bark, and the changing quality of light.
• Let your nervous system downshift. Many people find it helpful to keep the phone in a pocket or bag, use a simple watch for time, and leave notifications off during outdoor time.

According to research summarized by the American Heart Association, spending about two hours in nature over the course of a week has been linked with improved health and wellbeing in large population samples.American Heart Association – Spend Time in Nature

Step-2-bring-nature-closer-to-home

If a full homestead is beyond reach right now, you can still build a “nearby wild” that fits your current space.

• Grow something. Herbs on a windowsill, salad greens in a container, or pollinator flowers by a doorstep can all deepen your sense of kinship with soil and seasons.
• Rewild part of your yard or balcony. Let a corner grow a little messy with native plants, or add a shallow water dish for birds and insects.
• Open the boundary. Use open windows when safe, hang laundry outdoors, or eat one meal a day outside when weather and circumstances allow.

These small actions can increase your exposure to natural light and fresh air while inviting more nonhuman life into your daily field of attention.

Step-3-learn-the-land

Returning to nature is not just about being outdoors; it is about building relationship with place.

• Learn names. Get to know the plants, birds, insects, and clouds where you live. Field guides, local nature groups, and online citizen-science platforms may help.
• Track patterns. Notice where water tends to pool, when the first frost arrives, which birds leave and return, how the sun shifts across your home through the seasons.
• Practice reciprocity. Consider how you might give back to the land that holds you: planting native species, picking up litter, or supporting local conservation projects.

Research on nature connectedness suggests that people who feel more emotionally linked to the natural world are often more likely to act in ways that support environmental health, which can create a positive feedback loop of care and connection.Mental Health Foundation – Nature and Mental Health

Step-4-explore-homestead-style-living

If your dream includes growing more of your own food or living more self-reliantly, you can begin experimenting wherever you are.

• Start with one skill. Examples include bread baking, basic food preservation, composting, or tending a small flock of hens (if regulations and resources allow).
• Practice seasonal eating. Visit farmers’ markets or farm stands where possible, choose more local produce, and learn what grows when in your region.
• Assess your true needs. Keep a simple log of how you spend your days and what truly nourishes you. This can guide any decisions about relocating or changing your lifestyle.

When people approach homestead-style changes gradually, they may be better able to notice what genuinely supports wellbeing rather than chasing an idealized picture of rural life.

Tips-and-common-mistakes

Helpful-tips-for-a-grounded-return

• Let it be personal, not performative. Your return to nature does not have to look impressive on social media. Quiet, private moments of connection count.
• Work with your reality. Children, caregiving, health conditions, and finances all shape what is possible. Creative small steps may matter more than big, dramatic moves.
• Mix green and blue spaces. If you live near rivers, lakes, or the sea, remember that “blue spaces” are also linked with psychological benefits.American Psychological Association – Monitor
• Combine nature time with gentle movement. Walking, stretching, or gardening outside may give your body and mind a double benefit.Environmental Health Perspectives – NCBI
• Keep it regular. A little time outdoors, repeated often, may be more supportive than rare, long trips away from home.

Common-mistakes-to-avoid

• All-or-nothing thinking. Waiting until you can “leave it all behind” may delay the healing that small daily contact with nature can offer right now.
• Ignoring safety. It is important to consider weather, terrain, local wildlife, and your own health needs. When in doubt, seek guidance from local authorities or experienced outdoor groups.
• Over-romanticizing rural life. Country living may bring its own stresses: isolation, physical labor, limited services, and weather challenges. Spending extended time in a place before moving there may help you check your assumptions.
• Taking more than you give. Overharvesting wild plants, leaving litter, or disturbing habitats can harm the very places that sustain you. Gentle, low-impact presence is a better starting point.

Soft-conclusion

The allure of returning to nature is, at its core, a longing to feel at home again in the wider living world. You do not have to wait for the perfect plot of land or the perfect moment to begin.

By tending small daily rituals outdoors, learning the language of your local landscape, and moving gently toward deeper self-reliance, you may discover that “going back to nature” is less about escape and more about remembering who you have been all along: a human animal, rooted in earth and sky.

FAQ

How-much-time-in-nature-do-i-need-to-feel-a-difference

Some research on large groups of adults suggests that spending roughly two hours per week in green spaces is associated with higher self-reported health and wellbeing compared with spending less than that.Yale Environment 360 – Yale School of the EnvironmentAmerican Heart Association – Spend Time in Nature This can be spread over short outings, such as daily walks or regular time in a garden.

Can-nature-really-help-with-stress-and-anxiety

Evidence from experimental and observational studies suggests that exposure to natural environments may reduce perceived stress, lower some physiological stress markers, and support better mood in many people.Environmental Health Perspectives – NCBIMind – Nature and Mental Health However, responses can vary, and nature contact is not a replacement for professional mental health care when that is needed.

What-if-i-live-in-a-city

City dwellers can still connect with nature by visiting parks, riversides, community gardens, or tree-lined streets. Even small pockets of urban green have been linked with mood and attention benefits in research settings.American Psychological Association – MonitorMental Health Foundation – Nature and Mental Health

Do-i-have-to-move-to-a-rural-area-to-return-to-nature

No. Returning to nature can happen gradually and locally: growing food in containers, spending more time in nearby green spaces, or bringing natural materials into your home. A rural move is one possible path, but not the only way.

Is-there-any-risk-in-spending-more-time-outdoors

Spending time outdoors is generally considered beneficial for many people, but it is important to be mindful of sun exposure, extreme weather, local safety considerations, allergies, and access to emergency help. If you have a medical condition or concerns about outdoor activity, consider speaking with a health professional before making major changes.

Safety-and-sources

Information about nature and wellbeing is evolving, and individual responses to outdoor environments can differ widely. Time outside may support mood and health for many people, but it is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment when that is needed. If you notice persistent low mood, anxiety, or other distress, consider consulting a qualified healthcare professional or mental health provider.

When planning outdoor or homestead-style activities, consider:

• Checking local guidelines, weather forecasts, and land-use regulations
• Starting with low-risk environments and gradually increasing challenge if you wish
• Letting someone know where you are going and when you expect to return
• Carrying basic safety supplies, water, and appropriate clothing

Selected sources you may wish to explore:

• Yale Environment 360 – Yale School of the Environment
• American Psychological Association – Monitor on Psychology
• Environmental Health Perspectives – National Institutes of Health / NCBI
• Mental Health Foundation – Nature and Mental Health
• Mind – Nature and Mental Health
• American Heart Association – Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Author-footer

About the author: This article was prepared for The Rike’s Home Stead collection, drawing on research from environmental psychology, public health, and mental health organizations. It is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for personalized professional advice.