When you spend most of your time in weight rooms, on practice fields, and in the grind of athletic performance, it’s easy to forget how important it is to step away. Not just for a day off, but for a true reset—mentally, physically, and spiritually. For me, that reset comes in the form of the great outdoors.

Whether I’m hiking in the mountains, skiing, or sitting quietly in the woods on a hunt, I’ve found that nature offers something that no gym, no technology, and no treatment table ever could: space to breathe, to reflect, and to recover. It’s not just a break—it’s part of the process.

The Grind is Real—and So is Burnout

As a former athlete, I know how much pressure athletes are under. We train to push limits, to go harder, to build stronger bodies. And I’m passionate about that work. I love seeing an athlete reach a personal best or come back from an injury stronger than before. But I’ve also seen the toll it can take, mentally and emotionally.

You don’t have to be a college athlete to feel it. Coaches feel it. Parents feel it. Even the high school athlete juggling school, practice, and the pressure to earn a scholarship feels it. Eventually, if you never come up for air, the stress starts to outpace the progress. That’s where nature comes in for me. It’s my reset button.

Nature Heals What Training Can’t

There’s a peace in the wilderness that’s hard to explain until you experience it. When you’re out in the woods or up in the mountains, your phone doesn’t matter. Your schedule doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the next step, the next breath, the sound of the wind, the stillness.

That stillness heals. It restores my mind in a way that nothing else can. After a long season or a stretch of 12-hour days, being outside reminds me of who I am outside of my job title. It brings clarity, especially when I’ve been wrestling with something personal or spiritual. Sometimes I find answers out there. Sometimes I just find peace. Either way, it’s worth it.

Recovery Isn’t Just Physical

A lot of coaches focus on physical recovery: sleep, nutrition, mobility work, massage. All of those are important, and we use them regularly. But mental and emotional recovery matter just as much. You can’t separate the mind from the body. If an athlete is burned out mentally, it doesn’t matter how fresh their muscles are, they won’t perform.

That’s why I encourage the athletes I work with to find their own version of “wilderness.” For some, that might be a walk in the park. For others, it might be fly fishing or camping with family. The key is to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with themselves. Nature makes that possible.

A Return to What Matters

I didn’t always appreciate the outdoors the way I do now. As a younger coach and athlete, I thought more training was always better. I’d fill every hour with movement, planning, lifting, evaluating. But over time, I learned that stillness is just as valuable as motion. In fact, it’s necessary.

Now, I try to live with a rhythm that includes both. I’ll give everything I have in the weight room, but then I’ll get outside. Those moments refill the tank. They give me the energy, perspective, and clarity I need to show up fully for my family and my team.

Final Thoughts

Nature isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. Especially in a world that never stops moving. In the weight room, we train for strength, speed, and endurance. But outside—in the stillness of creation—we find rest, renewal, and clarity.

If you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or just tired, I’d encourage you to get outside. Even if it’s just for a short walk. You might be surprised by what you find when you finally stop to listen.

For me, the wilderness isn’t an escape, it’s part of the journey. And I’m better for it.