The Secret to Balance: Nature

September 24, 2025
by Ciara

School/Life Balance

Between deadlines, projects, internships, and the never-ending temptation to doom-scroll on TikTok, I know first hand how hard it is to maintain balance and to not feel overwhelmed by stress. But let me let you in on a secret that helped me become the most balanced I’ve been: the best way to clear your head isn’t coffee, energy drinks, or back-to-back all-nighters at the library, but rather a relaxing day spent exploring nature.

Coming from out-of-state, I was concerned that I would become stressed with school and not have access to the usual methods I had to calm me down at home (which were usually playing with my two dogs–Star and Sky– and my mischievous cat–Luna). Fortunately, one of my first classes at USC was OT-250, where I quickly realized that occupations–meaningful activities that hold value in one’s life– have a direct correlation with one’s overall well being. So I set on a path to find an occupation that both filled my life with joy and allowed me to get away from the busy life of undergrad and relax; eventually this path led me straight to my new favorite occupation: exploring nature! I realized that while academics fed my mind, nature fed my soul. So here’s how and why you should make room for both!

Visit local beaches:
During my freshman year, my friend group helped support my quest to make balance a priority in my life, and they were all also in love with the idea of doing so through nature. Visiting local beaches with a friend group is a fun way to immerse yourself in nature. Not only does going to beaches with friends make transportation easier, but it’s also nice to have someone there with you to share the experience. So far, I’ve been to Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and Malibu, and Catalina Island! Malibu was my most recent adventure and the first time I went on a hike in California. It was nice to get out of my comfort zone by adding the physical challenge of a hike to the usual relaxation I find within nature. If you are an out-of-state student like myself or do not have a car on campus, I highly recommend using the metro with your U-Pass or renting a car with a group of friends (I recently used ZipCar and it is beginner friendly!).

You can explore nature anywhere:
Exploring nature also allows you to explore the world! I was concerned that I would lose touch with my new love for nature when I went back home this summer, but nature is truly all around us. I found that outdoor walks and gardening allowed me to still engage in nature-based occupations at home. When I went on a cruise this summer, I even convinced my dad to do a nature-based excursion, where we went on a hike and slid down waterfalls in the Dominican Republic. It was the perfect duality of tranquility and thrill. Moral of the story, don’t let your mind limit you on how you can engage with nature, nature is everywhere!

Easy to add into your routine:
Exploring nature is rather easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Not every interaction has to be to along a hiking trail or at a beach; you can get your daily dose of nature by taking an outdoor walk, studying on the lawns on campus, or starting to care for a small plant (tip: start with a succulent if you’re a beginner like me). I also found that you can incorporate nature into other occupations. Before finals season, my friends and I went to The Getty and found ourselves drawn to the Garden Exhibit. It was so calming that we didn’t even notice we spent all our time there! If you’re a music lover, try taking a walk outside while listening to your favorite playlist! Or if you love journaling, try writing your next entry under a tree!

Why Nature?
You may be wondering: why? Well, nature-based occupations have several health benefits:

• Depression and Anxiety: Nature’s calming effect reduces cortisol, which reduces stress and anxiety.
• ADD and ADHD: Spending time in nature improves attention and cognitive function, which can help with focus and clarity.
• Human health: being outdoors and engaging in physical activity also encourages sunlight exposure, which can help regulate circadian rhythms, boost Vitamin D levels, and improve sleep quality.

Exploring nature has allowed me to explore myself: Who is Ciara? What works for me? What doesn’t? How am I genuinely feeling right now? Nature has seemingly become my safe haven and has brought me closer to my community, my friends, and most importantly, myself. The balance involved with nature-based occupations is only the tip of the iceberg of benefits it has in one’s life. If you’re interested in starting your nature journey and don’t know where to start, consider the USC Peace Garden; you can check out the updated hours HERE. So, the next time you find yourself overly stressed, don’t panic: take a break outside, let your mind reset, and come back to your task ready to to take on the day.

 

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