Slowing Down: Nature’s Cure for Burnout
I don’t know about you, but for me, creating more flow in my life has become a priority. I feel a desperate need to take time out of my busy days to drop into moments of productivity, where distractions are lessened, and silence fills the spaciousness around me. Instantly, my nervous system relaxes, and I finally allow myself to use my talents, while practicing self-care, towards meaningful projects that bring me a sense of joy.
For example, writing creatively like this, for a blog post (without the use of AI), brings me happiness. I rely on the dexterity of my fingers, my brain, my spirit, and my toes—yet not necessarily in that order. Likewise, to feed my inspiration and let my contemplative nature flourish, I often take strolls outside my home. Ten to twenty minutes of basking in Mother Earth’s beauty nourishes my soul.
If you’ve read my earlier posts, you’ll know that I love to write about the softness and sacredness of slowing down, the spiritual practice of appreciating the present moment, and connecting with nature.
I am an interfaith spiritual director, contemplative practices (mindfulness) teacher, and creative writing coach. I also work with individuals navigating major life transitions, including chronic illness, grief, and loss. In our increasingly busy lifestyles, it’s important to notice how beneficial it is to slow down, take stock of what we see and feel around us, and from within our minds, bodies, and spirits. The spiritual side of life is often neglected, yet when we focus on it, we can often find relief and comfort in times of uncertainty and pain.
Now that I have also trained as a certified burnout coach (last month, I graduated from the ICF-accredited Balanceology™ Burnout Coach Programme in the UK), I look forward to doing more outdoor coaching and spiritual direction sessions, in nature, with my clients, individually and in small groups. I want to help my directees grow, and heal, through a heightened appreciation of nature. Hopefully, more retreats, and pilgrimages, will follow.
Experiencing nature’s touch, and beauty, does wonders for humans, animals, and all little critters. For example, my cat sneaks out several times a day to sniff flowers, chomp on weeds, and meow at the puppy next door. She comes home refreshed, famished, and dirty. Yet there’s a sparkle in her emerald eyes, a fresh bounce to her step. Her positive energy is contagious.
There’s nothing like the wonders of nature—and those of God, Buddha, Spirit, or however you choose to name the Divine Source of Wisdom—to prevent, and help us recover, from the devastating effects of overwork, extreme mental and physical exhaustion, and burnout. I’m referring to all kinds of burnout here, not just what we hear about in the news—the devastation arising from multiple stresses, anxieties, and afflictions that our society unfortunately, and increasingly, finds in workplace settings.
I will write more about burnout in my next post. In the meantime, I will continue to plan creative moments into my workdays (and even my rest days). I will allow my mind and body to flow, prompting me to appreciate nature’s gifts, and do things I love, like dancing, writing, reading, taking photos, and feeling… Yes, the act of slowing down has become a priority.
What about you? What helps bring you balance and thrive in our increasingly fast-paced and stressful world?
Feel free to send me your experiences and thoughts through my website contact form. And if you would like to learn more about spiritual direction with me, please let me know.
Also, if you’d like to awaken your creative flow through intuitive expression, consider joining my next Mindfulness-Based Creative Writing Workshop: Prompt Your Passion. Participants in this 2-hour online workshop will be inspired by a series of in-class prompts using poetry and pictures. The aim is to boost creativity and deepen each participant’s intuitive expression and flow in writing through contemplative practices.
We will meet via Zoom on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 10:00-noon (PT) / 1:00-3:00pm (EDT) / 19:00-21:00pm (CET). Register soon as space is limited: