A little less stress and a little more wonder
By Marla Kaplan | Hands On HealthCare Massage Therapy, P.C. · 3 min read
Reviewed for accuracy: October 11, 2026.
Less stress and a calmer mood may be closer than you think. Sunlight shining through a leaf. A bird singing at the fence. The beautiful spiral of a succulent. There is so much to discover when you give the everyday world a second look!
Life is how you see it. A fresh look can give your attention somewhere lovely to land, even while your to-do list waits.
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, invites you to slow down and take in the forest through your senses. No bathing suit required! You can also begin exploring a nature break in a nearby park, garden or beneath a neighborhood tree.
The science behind the stress break
This interest is backed by years of research. A 2026 review of 25 studies found short-term reductions in stress and anxiety after forest-based activities. A randomized community-gardening trial also found improvements in both. Results vary, and researchers are still studying how long benefits last.
Discover the wood wide web
One of my favorite books, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, explores an astonishing underground world: fungal threads that can connect tree roots. Scientists have traced carbon moving between trees, though the benefits of these connections remain debated, and stories of trees deliberately helping their young go beyond the evidence. Imagine walking above that hidden world!
At Hands On, our many office succulents and Serenity Succulent Gardens reflect our love of living things. I’d love to talk at the office about forest bathing, the book and what science is discovering. Watch on YouTube using the links below, and bring your curiosity!
Try it today: pause outdoors, put your phone away and notice one detail you usually miss. Sit or stroll, then check in with how you feel. Find more everyday resets in our Hands On Guide to Well-Being.
Watch on YouTube: The Secret Language of Trees from TED-Ed and Forest Bathing—Seeking Wellness through Nature with researcher Yoshifumi Miyazaki. The tree video explores popular ideas scientists are still testing.
Educational information only—not medical advice, diagnosis or a substitute for care from a qualified health professional.
