Khanh Duong

← back to writing · May 21, 2025 · 3 min read

Nature Is My Reset Button

From weekend hikes to watering houseplants — how I reconnect and restore myself.

We all say we need balance. We talk about recharging, taking breaks, and resting. But when was the last time you truly felt restored?

I used to wonder the same.

It might sound strange, but I didn’t even know how to fully relax. 
Sitting on the couch, watching TV, reading the news, scrolling social media, or just doing “nothing” — none of them truly helped.

So I started asking myself:
What actually helps me feel relaxed, and truly restored?

For me, the answer is clear now: 
Nature.

When I feel overwhelmed, stuck in my thoughts, or just mentally tired, I return to nature — not always in big ways, but even the small ones help.

I believe we’re wired for it. We come from nature. It’s in our DNA. So when we walk among trees, hear birdsong, or simply water a plant, we’re not just relaxing — we’re returning to something deep and ancient. Something that feels like home.

Here are a few nature-based rituals that help me reconnect, reset, and restore.

1. Weekend Hikes: A Small Dose of Healing

Every Saturday, I go hiking — just two hours is enough. 
It doesn’t have to be intense. A simple trail, a quiet walk, and a little time with trees does the job.

While hiking, I often practice walking meditation — a method I learned from Thich Nhat Hanh in the book The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching.
It’s simple: Two steps, breathe in. Two steps, breathe out.

Step by step, breath by breath. The rhythm grounds me. The forest holds me. And something inside softens.

Even just two hours on a trail makes the week feel lighter.

2. National Parks: Full Immersion

When I have more time, I go deeper — into the heart of nature.

Currently living in the western U.S., I’m lucky to be close to many national parks. My most recent trip was to Yellowstone. I spent two full days from sunrise to sunset — walking, watching, reflecting.

What stayed with me was this:

“Change is the Only Constant.”

Rivers flow. Trees fall. New life grows.

The past and future are both present — coexisting in the same landscape. 
Some places are what others will one day become.

3. Camping: Not Comfortable, but Worth It

For me, camping isn’t always comfortable. 
Sleeping on hard ground in a bag? Not my favorite part. 
But waking up by a lake with birds singing? That moment is peaceful.

I usually camp with friends. We barbecue, play board games, share stories, and laugh. It’s simple. It’s joyful.

4. Gardening: Nature in a Corner

You don’t need a forest to reconnect with nature.
Sometimes, just a small garden can bring you back to earth.

In past seasons, I joined my apartment community in planting lettuces in a shared yard space.
Each morning, I would water them and watch them grow. Those were refreshing, grounding moments.

I wasn’t always consistent in gardening— travel and life sometimes got in the way.
But those quiet mornings stayed with me.

5. Watering Houseplants: Daily Micro-Doses

Even when I don’t hike, camp, or garden, I still have one daily ritual: watering my plants.

Touching the leaves. Watching them grow. 
It only takes a few minutes, but it brings a moment of calm. A breath. A pause. A peace.

If you live in a city or spend most of your time indoors, bring nature to you.

Plants aren’t just decoration. They’re quiet companions, reminding you to slow down and stay connected to the nature.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to hike Mount Everest to feel restored. 
You don’t need a week-long retreat in the woods.
Nature works in small doses. In quiet ways. In stillness.

Whether it’s a national park or a potted plant on your windowsill, nature brings you a way back to yourself.

And that’s where healing begins.