Why Are You Drawn to Trees, Water and Natural Spaces?

Written By: Vivian Benjamin

The modern world that you and I live in may look simple and easy because we are surrounded by technology that we think makes our lives easier. From the moment the alarm rings, humans enter a high-functioning robotic state. We wake up, hit the gym, clear the inbox, check the to-do list, eat and drink on the go, work fast and add more work to do, send children to school and pick them up, cook, clean and repeat it the next day. Our worth is measured by how efficiently we can perform, effectively altering ourselves into the very machines we work on. But humans were never meant to be algorithms.



Do you not wonder why our modern lives are increasingly becoming difficult to manage despite creating advanced technology to make life easier? We tend to numb ourselves just to survive the schedule and brace the life we have. We tick boxes while working just to finish the work without ever stopping to think outside the box. Now, I’m not saying modern technology is bad, but we need to reframe our thoughts about building a modern world and life because we may end up losing connections that humans were built for, subsequently damaging our spirit, soul and heart. 
 



When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, where do you go? You go to the beach, forest, mountains, gardens and many more natural spaces. Your body is craving to get in touch with nature and not technology, phones or laptops. Why does a view of a beautiful mountain or green trees bring instant tranquility, while a view of a concrete parking lot triggers dull fatigue?



Think of the moment when you step into a forest full of green trees or red during autumn, or when you look at the clear blue waters from beaches or waterfalls. When the wind blows, you can feel the wind brushing into your hair, face and body. You feel a sense of calm, relaxation, positive vibes and happiness. But do you feel the same energy or feeling when you check your emails or do paperwork/admin? Your body may know what is best for you. Your body may be telling you what is good for you. That is why perhaps we are being drawn to trees, water and natural spaces. 




In this article, I’m going to explore some reasons why we are captivated by trees, water and natural spaces. 

1. Your body and nervous system could be asking for what your busy robotic life doesn’t provide. In the modern world, humans are exposed to modern lives such as looking at screens, getting notifications and emails, artificial light, heavy traffic, pollution and constant stimulation due to work and life. However, nature, trees, water and landscapes do not create a mundane feeling. The sound of water falling from waterfalls or the wind blowing is not the same as the sound your Outlook email gives you or the sound of the incoming text from your phone.


When you look at trees, you see the different colours from green, yellow, orange and red, which are totally different from colours made from artwork or coloured pencils. You also see the leaves moving when the wind blows, sunlight filtering through the branches, the changing seasons and flowers blooming beautifully with different shapes and patterns. This initiates a sense of vastness and serenity.




 
2. It is possible that you are unconsciously pulled to the environment that makes you feel safe. What happens when you smell fresh soil, grass, flowers, herbs, trees and rain? Do you get the same feeling when you smell petrol, polluted air or smoke?  Does it feel the same when you are in an air-conditioned room or a room that has a fan compared to feeling the cool, crisp air on your skin when the wind blows on your face and body? There is something magical and inviting about the human attraction to water, greenery and stunning landscapes. 
 




3. Did you know that trees, water and mountains have powerful symbolism? For instance, Ginkgo biloba is known as the living fossil, as it stands beautiful through the test of time. This tree survived the mass extinctions of the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, Pleistocene glaciation and the Hiroshima bombing (1945). Trees like Ginkgo Biloba are rooted, alive and growing. Although they change with seasons, forming different coloured leaves and wither during winter, they come back alive during spring.


Mountains can signify resilience and unyielding support because they can help block harsh weather and offer natural physical defence. On the other hand, water can portray cleansing and renewal. Therefore, you may not simply feel connected to trees, water and natural spaces just because they are beautiful to the eyes, but maybe they resonate with something within you.
 




4. Water has its own mysterious, magnetic pull. When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, you go have a warm bath or warm shower. Similarly, you also tend to visit waterfalls, lakes, rivers, beaches, or oceans when you need to process your thoughts, relax, grieve or simply be. At times you may like to look out through the window when it's raining and the water is hitting the ground or the window. This simply could be due to the water changing the atmosphere around you. The sound of the water can indicate movement without urgency or repetition without monotony – a sound without conversation, a sound where you can just be yourself.
 





5. Nature gives you the permission to stop. The modern life requires you to constantly do things – working, achieving, communicating, questioning, judging and producing. A tree doesn’t care whether you have answered your emails. A river doesn’t care if you produce something good at work. Mountains don’t care if you achieved the highest sales in your department. Nature does not ask anything from you instead they give you nice colours to soothe your eyes, pleasant smells to create a happy mood and a soft touch to calm your nerves. 









All in All
So, why are you drawn to trees, water and natural spaces? What is nature calling you towards? Maybe you’re overwhelmed and need space. Maybe you crave silence. Maybe you need somewhere to think. Maybe you just need to sit under a tree, close your eyes and do nothing for a period of time.


And perhaps that is the whole idea – you don’t have to always measure, calculate, research or understand why you are drawn to something before you’re allowed to follow that primal instinct. Perhaps it's time to start reframing your thoughts on why your body, mind and heart are captivated by nature and why nature is calling you – why are you and nature calling each other? 










References
1. Barnes M.R. et al (2019); Characterizing Nature and Participant Experience in Studies of Nature Exposure for Positive Mental
   Health: An Integrative Review; Frontiers in Psychology; 9: 2617.

2. Gaekwad J.S. et al (2022); A Meta-Analysis of Emotional Evidence for the Biophilia Hypothesis and Implications for
    Biophilic Design; Frontiers in Psychology; 13: 750245.

3. Siah C.J.R. et al (2023); The effects of forest bathing on psychological well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis;
    International Journal of Mental Health Nursing; 32: 1038-1054.

4. Beute F. et al (2026); Mental health benefits of specific blue space types and characteristics: A systematic evidence
    map; Environmental Research; 297: 124054.


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