Forest Bathing Indoors: Bringing Nature Home and to the Office When the Weather Keeps Us Inside

Many of us spend our working days and at-home hours indoors, surrounded by colleagues, screens, and the hum of electronics. Yet staying connected to nature is vital for our well-being, focus, and creativity—whether we’re at a desk, in an office, or in a living space. Here are gentle, practical ways to “forest bathe” at work and at home, inviting the outdoors inside when it’s too cold to venture outside.

Forest bathing indoors: the basics

• Slow down to sense your surroundings: even a few minutes of mindful attention can reset the nervous system. Pause, breathe, and notice what you can see, hear, and feel in your environment.

• Create micro-experiences: brief nature-inspired pauses during the day—watch a plant’s leaves flutter, listen to birdsong from a window, or feel the chair beneath you as if you were grounding in a forest.

• Engage your senses: combine visual focus (watch a plant leaf), tactile awareness (touch the smooth surface of a desk plant pot), and mindful breathing (inhale slowly, exhale longer) to cultivate a quick sense of calm and presence.

Bringing the outdoors inside: practical ideas for home and office

• Add plants to your space: even a few well-placed pots can make a difference. NASA’s list of air-purifying plants includes peace lily, pothos, English ivy, chrysanthemums, gerbera daisy, snake plant, bamboo palm, azalea, red-edged dracaena, and spider plant. These plants help humidify the air, filter common indoor pollutants, and boost mood and concentration.

• Focus on humidity and air quality: plants release moisture, which can raise indoor humidity and reduce dry skin, throat irritation, and red eyes. Balanced humidity supports respiratory comfort and energy.

• Create a mini nature corner: designate a small shelf, desk, or corner with a few greens, natural wood décor, and a photo or object from the outdoors to evoke the feeling of the forest.

• Use natural scents and textures: a gentle diffuser with pine, cedar, or citrus scents, or a small sachet of dried botanicals can provide subtle, non-intrusive reminders of nature.

• Embrace natural lighting and views: position work and living areas near a window when possible, and use light, breathable curtains to let in daylight and reduce the sense of confinement.

• Take nature-inspired micro-breaks: schedule 2–3 minutes mid-day to step back, close your eyes, and imagine a forest scene. Pair this with a quick stretch, a breath cycle, or a brief mindfulness scan.

Why these practices matter: health and productivity benefits

• Plant-rich indoor environments can improve well-being and reduce common “sick building” symptoms such as dry skin, throat irritation, headaches, and fatigue.

• Humidity from indoor plants supports respiratory comfort and energy.

• Improved air quality and natural cues can reduce stress, enhance focus, and boost creativity and productivity.

• The presence of greenery is linked to more calm, less anxiety, and better engagement with daily tasks.

Bringing nature indoors isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about supporting our health, focus, and creativity in daily life. By integrating plants, micro-nature experiences, and mindful practices at home or in the office, we can maintain a palpable connection to the wider world.