Why Solo Time in Nature Matters
A Pathway Back to Yourself
In the swirl of responsibilities and noise, it can feel nearly impossible to carve out time for ourselves. And yet, some part of us knows: it matters. The space to pause. The permission to listen inward. The chance to remember what’s most essential.
Solo time in nature is not a luxury or an indulgence. It’s a return to your body-mind and a powerful practice for nature-based self-discovery. A gentle but powerful way of coming home to your body, your heart, your truth.
Whether you're a therapist, healer, caregiver, or simply human — creating intentional solo time is a vital resource for your well-being. At the Somatic Nature Therapy Institute, we often speak about the wisdom of our body-minds and our innate capacity to heal. Solo time is one of the ways we access that wisdom, one of the ways we remember that healing is not something outside of us — it lives within.
Why Solo Time in Nature Matters in Our Human Experience
There’s something profound that happens when we step away from the roles, routines, and noise of daily life. Solo time invites us into a different kind of relationship — with ourselves, with the land, with the unseen threads of insight that often go unnoticed in the busyness.
We don’t need to go far. A few hours at a local trail, a quiet morning in a nearby park, or even a cozy corner of our own backyard can open a doorway. The point isn’t how long or where — it’s the intention. The sacred pause.
Solo time allows us to:
✨ Reconnect with our body-mind and hear its subtle messages
✨ Rest and regulate our nervous system
✨ Discern what’s truly important and what’s no longer serving us
✨ Tap into our inner brilliance and creativity
✨ Remember that we are not separate from the natural world
In a culture that often prioritizes doing over being, it can feel counterintuitive — even irresponsible — to slow down. But this slowing is where the remembering and reconnection to self begins.
Making It Yours: Solo Time as a Personal Ritual
Solo time isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s not about following someone else’s map — it’s about making one that honors your own terrain. Here are a few gentle invitations to consider as you create your own version of solo time:
What is calling you right now?
Perhaps it’s rest. Or clarity. Or a deeper connection with spirit or nature. Naming your intention can help guide the shape your solo time takes.
What’s getting in the way?
Common beliefs might surface: “I can’t take time off.” “It’s selfish.” “I don’t deserve it.” These are tender places. You’re not alone in them. And yet, the act of naming and acknowledging them is part of understanding yourself, and moving forward.
What kind of support do you need to make this happen?
Can someone help with childcare? Would telling a friend help you follow through? Might a group retreat or guided container feel more accessible?
How will you return?
Just as we plan to leave, it’s helpful to plan for our return. What will help you integrate what you’ve discovered? Answer these questions for yourself:
Who went out?
Who came back?
What gifts are you bringing back to your community?
If you choose to share your experience with someone, make sure it is someone who can truly listen and will honor your story.
Solo Time and the Wisdom of the Land
At SNTI, we see nature not as a backdrop, but as a co-therapist and facilitator — a living, breathing presence that reminds us who we are beneath the layers. Katie Asmus, founder and guide, has spent decades supporting individuals in reconnecting with their own inner wisdom through nature-based therapy and rites of passage.
Time alone on the land — whether as part of a nature-based therapy training or a personal retreat — invites a kind of listening we rarely experience in our everyday lives. It’s a conversation with the more-than-human world. A mirror. A medicine.
An Invitation to Begin
You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to start.
Choose a time. Mark your calendar. Let it be simple. Let it be real. Whether you go alone or are held in the arms of community, this is your journey back to what matters.
Join us for a deeper journey
And if you feel the call to explore more deeply — in a supported way, held by the land and a circle of others — we welcome you download our free journal about crafting solo time. For now, we invite you to notice how these ideas resonate with your own experiences and journey.
What might be possible if you gave yourself even a little more space to listen?
*We acknowledge the complex history of identity expressions, reclamation, and inclusion through language. Our intention is to create a container that recognizes the broad scope of womanhood. We welcome women (cis and trans), femmes and genderqueer people. As facilitators, we are actively invested in our own learning and skill development around gender diversity and trans inclusion, and welcome any questions or requests from interested applicants.