The sensory experiences of nature, from the crunch of autumn leaves underfoot to the gentle murmur of flowing water, offer a source of rejuvenation and tranquility. Yet, countless jobs restrict workers’ opportunity to engage with outdoor settings during their working hours, limiting these restorative benefits.
Anna Rose Smith, a psychotherapist based in Utah, encountered such constraints when she began her career in an office devoid of windows. Having grown up active outdoors, her transition to a completely enclosed workspace was challenging. To reconnect with the natural world, Smith made a habit of spending lunch breaks outside by nearby fountains and gardens, often collecting elements like flower petals or fallen leaves to bring indoors. She enhanced her office environment audibly with recordings of birdsong, which she occasionally incorporated into therapy sessions to provide a calming backdrop for clients.
"Having that reminder that the natural world exists beyond these walls helps me maintain perspective," Smith explained. "It reassures me that regardless of the challenges faced inside the office, nature continues around us."
Accessing expansive outdoor areas such as woodlands or waterfronts during the workday remains difficult for many, especially amid urban landscapes and inclement weather. Nevertheless, several methods exist to foster a connection with nature, even within confined or windowless office settings.
One approach involves relocating scheduled meetings outdoors. Smith often arranges "walk and talk" sessions on greenways, allowing client interactions to occur in refreshing environments. Technological advancements permit virtual meetings to adapt to similar settings; for instance, Smith participates in online conferences via smartphone while walking through natural surroundings, gaining exposure to sunlight, water features, and plant life, which she associates with a heightened sense of calm and improved concentration.
Supporting these practices, Atlantic Packaging, a sustainable packaging producer headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, promotes holding meetings in outdoor courtyards or walking during discussions, according to Becca Schusler, the company’s wellness director. The Charlotte facility features additions such as fig trees and indigenous plants. Furthermore, the company initiated a 2024 nature challenge encouraging staff to log time spent outside while engaged in various daily activities including walking dogs, eating, attending meetings, or viewing sunsets. Employees contributed photos from diverse locations nationwide, reflecting a broad engagement with natural settings. Participants reported experiencing reduced stress attributed to increased outdoor exposure.
Besides meetings, Atlantic Packaging also organizes "Walk it out Wednesdays," a weekly group walk giving employees a chance to refresh and regain focus. Similarly, Ford Motor Company incorporated nature-focused design elements in its redesigned headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, completed in 2025. The site integrates native vegetation, paved walking trails, and open-air pavilions, inviting staff to use these spaces for meetings or breaks. Notably, the placement of parking was intentionally distant from the building to encourage walking through carefully crafted natural features such as tall grasses, rocky outcrops, bridges, and flowering plants.
"We deliberately engineer spatial elements to elicit positive physiological and psychological effects," said Jennifer Kolstad, Ford’s global and brand design director. She emphasized that human health considerations form a key component of the company's design philosophy.
In colder seasons or harsh weather, when outdoor access is less feasible, windows serve as important conduits to the outside world. Ford’s headquarters were designed with centrally located offices surrounded by collaborative spaces featuring large windows to maximize natural light and views. During her time in a windowless office, Smith maintained a pothos plant, chosen for its low light requirements, as a touch of greenery. When transferred temporarily to a colleague’s office with a window, the plant benefited from additional light exposure. Smith reflected on the heightened value of windows during adverse weather conditions as a source of comfort.
Commuting practices can also integrate outdoor time. Bicycling to work or partway provides physical activity and nature contact, with many municipalities offering bike sharing programs. Dressing appropriately with insulated clothing, gloves, and headgear can mitigate cold exposure.
Erin Mantz, vice president of marketing for public relations firm Zeno Group in Washington, D.C., finds walking integral to her routine, attending pre-dawn Pilates sessions on foot four times weekly. During remote workdays, she takes breaks to walk her dog along neighborhood trails. Reflecting on her childhood in Chicago, Mantz recalled the freedom of playing outdoors despite winter conditions, highlighting a disconnect she experienced during earlier office-bound roles. With a hybrid schedule now, she recognizes nature’s positive influence on relaxation and stress reduction, noting the restorative impact of fresh air on both mind and body.
Overall, integrating time in nature into the workday presents practical benefits and challenges. While urban environments and inclement weather pose obstacles, adaptive strategies such as outdoor meetings, workplace plantings, walking breaks, window placement, and commuting choices offer avenues to enhance employee well-being and mental health through connection with the natural world.