Nature as Medicine

This Memorial Day weekend, I write this post right before a trip to the beautiful Rocky Mountains where I'm supporting an Au Pair Weekend program. As I prepare and review my teaching materials, I'm reminded of nature's profound ability to heal, restore, and teach us what it means to live in balance.

The Science Behind Nature's Healing Power

Recent research shows that spending time in nature has been one of the key factors enabling homo sapiens to cope with stress, with nearly half of people today finding that visiting green spaces helped them manage life's challenges.

There is an immediate transformation that happens when we step away from our screens and into green spaces. Even "doses" of nature can be as effective as medication to temporarily improve concentration and reduce emotional dysregulation. The change is also usually visible - stressed faces soften, anxious energy settles, and genuine smiles can emerge through nature.

Creating Balanced Ecosystems

The program I'm supporting centers around the concept of creating balanced ecosystems in our daily lives. Just as caregivers nurture children for their [host] families, nature nurtures all humans. When we're stressed, exhausted, or disconnected, it becomes harder to give our best to others - whether as parents, leaders, mentors, or Founders building companies. Mental fatigue can be combated and concentration improved by time spent in nature. For founders facing constant decision-making and complex challenges in today's fast-paced world, this isn't just nice-to-have - it's necessary for peak cognitive performance.

We are part of an interconnected system where personal wellness and environmental care feed each other. People with strong nature connectedness are likelier to have pro-environmental behaviors, which leads to further benefits as these actions improve the natural spaces we then go on to enjoy.

Memorial Day Reflection

This Memorial Day [2025], as we honor those who served our country, I'm struck by how the concept of service extends to our relationship with the natural world. The veterans we remember today protected our freedoms; now it's our turn to protect the environments and democracy that sustain and restore us!

How To Integrate Nature into your Founder Journey

1. Start meetings with a moment outdoors or by a window with a view of nature

2. Keep plants in your workspace and take mindful moments to water and observe them

3. Facilitate Walking meetings in parks or tree-lined streets instead of conference rooms

4. Practice the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds - ideally something natural

5. End each day by journaling 

   
   

A mindful person connected to nature often inspires others, creating a ripple effect of responsibility in their community. When we, as founders, invest in our own restoration through nature, we return to our teams and companies with renewed creativity, clearer decision-making, and deeper reserves of patience and compassion.

I challenge you to see nature as your co-founder in building a more balanced, sustainable way of leading. Whether you are facing a difficult decision, need a creative breakthrough, or simply want to show up as your best self for your team, step outside. Let the wisdom of the natural world inform your next move.