Rewilding Minds: How Nature Informs Creativity, Collaboration, even Transformation.

In a world where most of us spend 90% of our lives indoors, stepping outside into nature isn’t just a luxury—it’s a biological necessity. The moment we enter a natural space—whether walking through a forest, sitting under a tree, or holding a conversation in woodland —our bodies begin to respond. 

Blood pressure drops. Cortisol levels (the stress hormone) lower. Our heart rate slows. And perhaps most interestingly, our brains begin to shift into a more creative, emotionally balanced state.

Nature Changes the Brain and Body

Numerous studies have shown that even a short amount of time in nature can have profound effects on human physiology and mental health. A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that just 20 minutes in nature significantly reduced cortisol levels. 

Another paper from the University of Michigan reported that walking in nature improved memory performance and attention spans by 20%, while Japanese researchers studying Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) noted lowered heart rates, reduced anxiety, and increased parasympathetic nerve activity, which supports rest and recovery.

Nature essentially allows the human nervous system to recalibrate. It shifts us out of fight-or-flight mode and into a more restful, open, and receptive state—ideal not only for mental health but also for creative thought and team collaboration.

The Outdoors, a Creative Accelerator

The effects aren’t just individual. In group settings—like off-site meetings, leadership retreats, or team-building gatherings—being in a natural environment creates the conditions for more meaningful, imaginative, and energised prosocial engagement. 

Natural settings reduce the hierarchical feel of a boardroom and increase psychological safety, making people more open to sharing ideas and especially important expressing vulnerability.

Studies have found that people immersed in nature experience increased activity in key areas of the brain associated with imagination, self-reflection, and divergent thinking. Hence, walking through a forest or sitting in an orchard can literally unlock the creative parts of our brain that office spaces often suppress.

A Spiritual and Emotional Shift

But it’s not just science—it is about feeling. Time in nature allows people to access a deeper, more grounded version of themselves. Away from screens, deadlines, and artificial lighting, people become more present, more in tune with their senses, and more likely to experience what researchers call awe—an emotion associated with humility, inspiration, and perspective.

Conversations held outdoors tend to be more expansive. Ideas arrive more fluidly. Even silence feels more constructive. This is why so many ancient cultures viewed nature as a teacher—and why modern businesses are increasingly seeking out off-sites in natural environments to spark innovation, recharge teams, and foster a different quality of dialogue.

Nature, a Strategic Asset

Quinta da Bufala in Sintra is designed around this principle—that nature isn’t just a backdrop but a channel to be tapped, even a catalyst. Whether hosting a strategic planning session beneath our orchard trees or sketching ideas at an open-air table, teams experience more clarity, calm, and cohesion.

Nature doesn’t just change how we feel—it changes how we think, collaborate, and imagine. And in a world that demands ever more agility and creativity, that’s not a luxury. It’s a strategy in itself.