“Trees give peace to the souls of men”

                                    -Sylvia Plath

There is an almost immediate flooding of peace that washes over me when I immerse myself in nature. The sights, sounds and smells are all so visceral. I feel at once humbled and emboldened. The psychological benefits of nature have been well documented yet the psychical benefits of experiencing earth’s blessings are equally important and science has the research to back it up.

More people live in major cities than ever before in human history. It is incredibly easy to hole up indoors in front of our technological devices and be consumed by the vastness of the digital world. Many of our occupations require it. It can be hypnotic and almost anesthetizing. And as many ‘connections’ we may make digitally we are losing true connectedness-that with the precious gift of nature.

There is a real luxury in the access to information we have in our digital age. We are in a true entrepreneurial era with far greater opportunity for people to work remotely from and outside of offices. The struggle lies in the fact that we never completely shut down.

As entrepreneurs we strive to build businesses around the clock. But shutting down and getting outside can aid in the success of our business endeavors while contributing to our psychological and physical wellness. Business Insider magazine recently published a list of ‘scientific reasons’ we need to spend more time in nature.

Improved short-term memory, sharper thinking and creativity and improved concentration just to name a few. All which will undoubtedly aid your entrepreneurial pursuits. Better vision was even documented. Logging in more hours in front of your laptop building your empire is not necessarily going to allow you to realize your dream any sooner. Frankly, it could seriously harm you.

Arianna Huffington speaks actively about her breakdown in 2007 when she collapsed from exhaustion from working endless hours and depriving her self of self-care. It’s quality not quantity. Shut down the computer and take a trip and drink in the mountains. It will be worth your while.

"We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.”

― Arianna Huffington, Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder

Artwork by Inka and Niclas