The Wild Reset

The Wild Reset: How Nature Fuels Focus and Leadership

For me, maintaining a mental edge doesn’t happen behind a desk. Some of my clearest insights about focus, resilience, and perspective have shown up hiking or skiing in the mountains. Hiking and skiing have become more than recreation. They’ve become a way to recalibrate — a chance to recharge my body and, more importantly, reset my perspective as a leader.

Nature’s Reset Button

A recent New York Times article, “A Surprising (and Easy) Way to Boost Your Attention Span,” highlights research showing that time outdoors strengthens focus and reduces mental fatigue. Natural settings engage us differently — they draw us in without demanding constant problem-solving. Looking at trees, rivers, or snow-covered ridges gives our overworked brains space to recover. It’s not about escaping work. It’s about restoring the capacity to do it well.

Bigger Than Ourselves

Standing in front of a mountain range or watching snow fall in silence reminds me that the world is bigger than my inbox, my meetings, or the latest challenge I’m wrestling with. That sense of awe matters. Research from UC Berkeley shows that awe slows us down, stretches our sense of time, and makes us more patient and generous — qualities leaders desperately need.

Focus on the Edge

There’s also something about being on the edge — skiing a slope where every turn counts, or scrambling along a rocky ridge where every step demands attention. In those moments, distractions disappear. You’re fully present, locked in. That kind of focus transfers directly back into leadership. When the stakes are high, presence and clarity matter most.

Not a Shortcut

Spending time outside isn’t a replacement for hard work. Leadership still requires preparation, discipline, and grit. But nature provides balance. If we carve out intentional time for these resets, we come back sharper, calmer, and more grounded. It’s less about getting away and more about coming back ready to re-engage.

Five Ways to Find Focus in Nature — and Yourself

1. Schedule Micro-Adventures – Even a 30-minute walk in a park during the workday can clear mental clutter.

2. Seek Awe, Not Just Exercise – Don’t just push through the hike. Pause. Take in the view. Let it humble you.

3. Practice Single-Tasking – Leave the phone in your pocket. Pay attention to the trail, the snow, the sky.

4. Reflect Afterwards – Capture insights that come when your mind is uncluttered. They often connect directly to leadership challenges.

5. Bring Others Along – Shared outdoor experiences — from a walk to a retreat — strengthen relationships and collective focus.

   
   

The Leader Who Returns from the Wild

Every time I return from the mountains, I bring back more than tired legs and a clear head. I come back with perspective, patience, and presence. That’s the real value of a wild reset: when I lead myself outdoors, I return better prepared to coach and lead others.