The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Nature’s Stress Management Strategies

Discover How Nature Can Save Your Sanity (and Your Startup)

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” John Lubbock

Feeling overwhelmed by the never-ending and ever-escalating demands of entrepreneurship? Discover how spending time in nature can be your secret weapon against stress and safeguard you against burnout!

“I believe the best way to begin reconnecting humanity’s heart, mind, and soul to nature is for us to share our individual stories.” J. Drew Lanham

Emily, a budding entrepreneur, recently opened her own tech bookshop, a venture that quickly consumed her with the pressures of managing finances, meeting client expectations, and navigating the competitive market. Despite her passion and dedication, the constant demands began to take a toll on her emotional well-being, resulting in many sleepless nights. To counteract this, Emily decided to carve out time in her hectic schedule to reconnect with nature. She began spending her weekends hiking in nearby forests, relishing the fresh air, the soothing sounds of chirping birds, and the wind chasing rustling leaves. These nature escapes offered a much-needed break from her digital-heavy work environment. The serene landscapes and physical activity helped reduce her cortisol levels, providing a natural antidote to stress. As she walked along the trails, her mind would clear, allowing her to reflect and gain new perspectives on her business challenges. The peaceful environment fostered mindfulness, helping her to focus on the present moment and release the pent-up tension. These regular nature outings enhanced her creativity and problem-solving skills, leading to innovative ideas for her startup. Emily noticed that after her time in nature, she returned to work with renewed energy and a more positive outlook, better equipped to handle the demands of entrepreneurship.

I have always dreamed about owning a little farm in France, with enough land for a couple of horses. Helping people manage stress more effectively has always been my mission in life, and to this day I am convinced that it is easier to teach/learn stress management strategies in a natural environment. My dream finally came true, and I now view Nature as a powerful and influential co-host of my Meditation and Mindfulness with Horses retreats.

“Just being here on the far makes me feel so much more relaxed,” more than one of my guests said soon after arrival. I always wondered how that works, scientifically. Now I know that time spent in nature reduces stress by:

1. Reducing our Cortisol Levels: Studies have shown that spending time in green/blue spaces can significantly reduce cortisol, helping people feel less stressed and more at ease.

2. Lifting our Mood: Exposure to natural light and fresh air boosts the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of happiness.

3. Engaging us in Physical Activities such as walking, hiking, or biking in nature. This not only provides exercise, which is known to reduce stress, but also stimulates the production of endorphins, natural mood lifters, which can help counteract the effects of stress.

4. Improving our Ability to Concentrate: A natural environment provides a restorative experience that helps replenish depleted attention resources, reducing mental fatigue and increasing concentration. This improved focus can help individuals manage stress better by enhancing their ability to tackle tasks efficiently.

5. Providing a physical and emotional escape from our demanding daily routines and our often urban environment – a refreshing break from stressors, such as noise and light pollution, and of course, air pollution, that can help re-energise the mind, often resulting in new perspectives and reducing stress levels.

6. Making us more Mindful: The tranquillity of natural settings makes it easier to be mindful, the practice of being present in the moment, which is known to significantly reduce stress. Mindfulness in nature involves observing our surroundings, listening to sounds, and feeling the textures, walking bare foot, which can help ground us.

7. Boosting our Immune Function, leading to better overall health and resilience against stress. Natural environments expose individuals to phytoncides, airborne chemicals released by plants, which have been shown to increase the activity of natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell that boosts the immune system.

8. Enhancing Sleep Quality: Exposure to natural light during the day helps regulate circadian rhythms, leading to improved sleep patterns. Physical activity in nature also contributes to better sleep quality.

9. Increasing our Creativity: Nature exposure can boost creativity and problem-solving skills. This increase in creativity can help us find new ways to handle stress and develop innovative solutions to challenges.

10. Encouraging us to Reflect and view our Situation from a different Perspective: Nature provides a serene setting that encourages reflection and introspection. This can help us gain perspective on their problems, reducing the perceived intensity of stressors and promoting a sense of calm and clarity.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” Rachel Carson

Attending a retreat, with Mother Nature as your hostess, gives you a chance to swap the stress of spreadsheets for the serenity of sunsets. Going on a nature retreat, once or twice a year, is a must for hardworking entrepreneurs because, let’s face it, walking part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in the sunblessed south of France is one of the most inspiring experiences of all times and might well be the best way plan a startup or solve a business crisis. My Manifest Your Next Chapter retreats offers you some precious time out to cleanse and restore your mind, body, and soul by swapping social media scrolling for scenic strolling. Plus, nothing puts business problems into perspective like realizing you can’t negotiate your way out of an encounter with a herd of curious sheep.

Email me if you would like to find out more.