A week ago, I returned from a five-day backpacking trip through Olympic National Park. It was nothing short of magic.
As I hiked through old-growth forests, crossed crystal-clear rivers, and fell asleep to the sound of silence each night, I was reminded why I keep coming back to these trips.
Five years ago, I went on my first backpacking trip through the Great Smoky Mountains. At the time, I was carrying a tremendous amount of stress while navigating some difficult health challenges. Like many people, I tried just about everything to feel better: mindfulness workshops, meditation retreats, girls’ weekends, yoga retreats, long beach walks, and day hikes.
They all helped…but only temporarily.
Backpacking was different. Something inside me shifted. Being completely immersed in nature for several days with no cell service, no notifications, no endless to-do list, and no expectations creates a kind of peace that’s hard to describe. Your world becomes incredibly simple. Your focus narrows to the essentials: food, water, shelter, and the people you’re with.
The mental clutter fades. You think more clearly and breathe a little deeper.
When I return home, life hasn’t changed really, but I have. The everyday frustrations don’t seem nearly as important. I feel calmer, more grounded, and better equipped to handle whatever comes my way.
Since that first trip, I’ve made it a priority to schedule backpacking trips each year. They help me reconnect with nature, but more importantly, reconnect with myself.
Recently, I listened to an interview with Dr. Dacher Keltner on The Mel Robbins Podcast. After more than three decades studying happiness, meaning, and purpose, he spoke about something he calls “awe.”
It’s the simple act of fully noticing beauty, wonder, kindness, or connection.
Research suggests these moments of awe can reduce stress, quiet inflammation, increase feelings of connection, and improve overall well-being. And the best part is they don’t have to last long. Even five minutes can make a meaningful difference.
As I listened, I realized I’ve been practicing this for years without knowing there was a name for it.
This practice started while I was camping. I’d wander away from camp, find a quiet spot, and simply sit and observe for as long as I wished. Now I share this practice with my nine-year-old son whenever we camp together, and he genuinely looks forward to it.
At home, it looks a little different. Most mornings I sit outside with my coffee before I ever touch my phone. I listen to the birds, feel the morning air, and let my mind ease into my day. I’ll take neighborhood walks without earbuds and challenge myself to notice something I’ve never seen before.
These small moments have done more for my ability to manage stress than any meditation app I’ve ever tried.
A Simple Challenge This Week
You don’t need a five-day backpacking trip to experience the benefits of awe.
Try one of these each day:
Spend five minutes outside without your phone.
Take a walk with no music or podcast.
Watch a sunrise or sunset without distractions.
Sit in a park and simply observe what’s around you.
At the end of the day, write down one thing that made you stop and appreciate the moment.
They sound almost too simple. But often, it’s the simplest habits that create the biggest changes.
We live in a world that’s constantly demanding our attention. Our brains rarely get a break. Yet for thousands of years, humans lived among forests, rivers, mountains, and open skies. We aren’t designed to be endlessly stimulated.
We still need nature.
We still need quiet.
We still need moments where nothing is expected of us.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do for your health isn’t another workout, supplement, or trendy diet.
Sometimes it’s simply stepping outside and immersing yourself in nature.
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