I’ve tried wellness routines around the world, from lunar meditations in Bali to sunrise yoga on the Great Barrier Reef. Yet one of the most soul-stirring practices took shape in my backyard in Cleveland, Ohio—and it requires half the time it takes me to brush my teeth.
The ritual is simple: every night, I spend at least 60 seconds in my backyard admiring the stars and planets. This process has led to something I didn’t know I needed: awareness. Dedicating time each night to looking up, even in a light-polluted city, helps me shirk the day-to-day doldrums and really notice the world, and my place in it.
“When you look up at the night sky, your perception of yourself in the world changes,” says Christine Norton, a licensed clinical social worker and leader in the field of wilderness therapy. Research also suggests that when our vision is diminished by darkness, other senses may kick into overdrive. In my case, I’m much more sensitive to sound when I’m outside at night.
“That kind of novelty is right-brained engagement, and that’s where a lot of healing can take place. We’re not just thinking, we’re feeling, we’re perceiving, we’re sensing,” Norton says.
And it’s not just sky-watching. Other 60-second nature rituals, such as resting your bare feet in the grass, touching bark, or sitting in a forest, can foster mindfulness and healing.
“It’s like microdosing nature,” Norton says, noting these practices can enhance the immune system, slow the rate of respiration, lower blood pressure, and calm the nervous system. Practitioners see the greatest benefit after ten minutes, she says, but one minute is a good starting point. I’ve enjoyed feelings like enhanced mindfulness and calm, even in that short time.
My stargazing ritual started as an informal experiment in early 2025; as a seasoned travel writer, I wanted to see if I could re-create the awe and magic of travel while back at home. My journeys lean heavily on outdoor adventure and astrotourism. I enjoy hours upon awestruck hours in nature and beneath the stars on the road—then I come home, sit at my desk, and let the wonder slip away.
The post Reset Your Brain in 60 Seconds with These Nature Rituals appeared first on Outside Online.
