How to Leverage the Outdoors to Reset in 2025

This is a guest post brought to you by Lace Up Joy.

In 2025, the importance of intentionality in every moment is more crucial than ever.

Victor Hugo once said, “Short as life is, we make it still shorter by the careless waste of time.”

Reflecting on this as we step into the new year is an opportunity to thoughtfully curate how we interact with ourselves, the world around us, and the experiences we seek.

As the leader of Lace Up Joy, an outdoor community focused on mental health, I find that nature is a powerful guide in fostering both peace and clarity. Whether it’s listening to the trees, the ocean, or the mountains, each natural element offers a message.

As we look ahead to 2025, here are five ways to leverage the outdoors to reset in 2025 and align with your highest self.

6 Ways to Leverage the Outdoors to Reset in 2025

1 – Download a digital wellness product to guide your mindset into the new year

It can be helpful to have a structured guide to direct positive thoughts and self-reflection time.

Invest in yourself and check out the 5 Day Prayer and Meditation Journal in pursuit of peace and healing. If you are not ready yet to take a weekend trip or invest resources in travel, just go to your local park or sit amongst your house plants and complete this meditative 5-day journal.

It’s a method for resetting your thoughts and preparing for a happy, productive year. Completing a 5 day-structured journal can help clear your mind and set you up for a productive, peaceful year.

2. Go on a solo trip to reconnect with yourself

There’s nothing quite like the peace of solo travel to help you re-center. I recently spent a weekend at a cute Airbnb near Olympic National Park in Seal Cove, in Mason County, Washington, where I had the chance to fully immerse myself in nature.

With sweeping views of the inlet, an outdoor bathtub, and a slow, quiet pace, I soaked in the stillness of the outdoor bath and let my mind fully immerse in a book. I soaked for hours, gently turning the pages of a book, and snacking on crunchy veggies and hummus.

While I nested in the cozy warm water, I inhaled the breath of the trees, watched the birds dive towards the water, and the seals play in the inlet. I spent time reading, journaling, and reflecting on my goals for the year ahead.

Disconnecting from distractions and intentionally planning for what matters most made the weekend a true reset.

3 – Build community through a local, outdoorsy weekend friend trip

Having an active community that enjoys tapping into the positive energy and the glow of the outdoors can assist in maintaining a connection to the outdoors. A group of my old and new friends headed about 2 hours outside of Seattle towards Mount Rainier, to embark on a ranger-led snowshoeing trek.

However, when we got to the Jackson Visitor Center, I learned the Rangers wouldn’t be leading a trip that day, but they did highlight a nice trail on a map. We rented snowshoes for about $25, and headed outside into a winter wonderland. As the snow danced from the sky, I got to know new friends as we trekked along the path.

I learned we enjoyed similar hobbies including cycling, running, and swimming. It’s difficult to be stressed and angry in the middle of an enchanted forest. Being in a community in a snow-frosted forest made the worries of life dissipate and the laughter of the community rise. Snowshoeing in nature with a community creates bonds and lasting memories that can strengthen both mental and emotional health.

4. Find an outdoorsy bucket list item to do

After the snowshoeing, I led the group to Paradise Village Inn & Sauna to check out the traditional Ukrainian Cannibal Hot Tub. It is a bucket list item! It felt like a moment of luxury to sink into the warm water following a snowshoe trek.

As the steam rose from the traditional hot tub, I inhaled the mountain air around us, near the base of Mount Rainier. The experience was pure joy as the group vibed out to music and rotated between the sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge areas.

5 & 6. Give back to the earth and let nature be your teacher

Give Back

One of my friends found cheap flights between Seattle and Hawaii. And some friends and I went to enjoy the food, culture, windsurfing, and ecotravel including ATVing to plant a tree and learn about the local ecosystem.

Sometimes the most transformative experiences come when we give back. I was devastated to learn about the impact of farming, and cutting down forests in Hawaii.

Through the eco-travel tour, I learned about the impact of this practice on the rainfall and weather patterns in the area. We rode ATVs in an area shrewd with plastic due to a monolithic farming practice for the production of pineapples.

My heart cried out for the damaged ecosystem. I was elated to add a native plant back into the ecosystem. Although the scope of the problem feels daunting and our efforts felt like a drop in a bucket of water.

Let Nature Be Your Teacher

Later in the trip, we took windsurfing lessons. It was about $190 for 2 hours of lessons. And I didn’t know what to expect. The water was warm and the air too.

Our beginner’s group found a spot on the beach with only a couple of locals. And a windsurfing professional athlete taught us to be a student of the wind. Through this experience, I learned to attune to the wind.

I synced the direction of my body with the wind in order for my sail to catch the gentle nudge of the breeze, and I realized I couldn’t fight the wind and win. Not only that, but I could not work against the wind. The only way to progress was to pay attention and move in sync with the wind. It was a magical experience.

The experience left me with a deep sense of connection to the elements — a reminder that sometimes we need to slow down and listen to nature’s lessons.

In Conclusion

Whether you are leveraging a digital wellness product to increase your focus and mental health, embarking on a peaceful solo trip in the wild, or checking off a bucket list item, there are many ways to leverage the outdoors to reset 2025. Wishing you joy, peace, good health, and a beautiful journey outdoors and within.

Thank you Capree! Capree Bell is an avid outdoor enthusiast hailing from the lush, evergreen landscapes of Cascadia. Growing up immersed in nature, she spent her childhood fishing, hiking, and camping, fostering a deep connection to the wild. Today, she leads Lace Up Joy, the Culture outdoors, a vibrant community dedicated to promoting positive mental health and joy through outdoor adventures.

Through Lace Up Joy, Capree inspires others to explore the outdoors, offering guided adventures, digital wellness products, and even personalized birthday trip planning. Whether you’re looking to connect with nature, boost your well-being, or celebrate in the great outdoors, Lace Up Joy is here to make it unforgettable.