How Nature and Neuroplasticity Reset the Brain—Even Without a 48-Hour Getaway

For years, I’ve felt the benefits of even a short change of scene—something as simple as a weekend away. While “48 hours” isn’t a magic number scientifically speaking, research into neuroplasticity shows that our brains respond powerfully to novelty. Even brief exposure to new environments can stimulate changes in brain activity, particularly in areas linked to learning, memory, and emotional regulation (Fenton & Bures, 2020).

(© Naomi Hurst 2025)

This idea—of changing your environment to change your mind—has always resonated with me. But recently, I walked the same route near home every day for a week. Not at the same time each day (life doesn’t always work that way), but always the same path.

And what unfolded was anything but repetitive.

Each day was different—the sky changed, the sounds shifted, plants transformed, and my own thoughts and energy varied too. I realised that transformation doesn’t always require a new destination. Sometimes, it’s the depth of presence that makes the familiar feel new.

Neuroplasticity isn’t only triggered by grand novelty—it can also be nurtured through deeper awareness, especially in nature. Whether it’s a forest trail or a city park bench, the natural world invites us into the richness of each moment. It helps us pause, sense, and reconnect with something beyond our usual noise.

And so, I wonder: maybe we don’t always need to go far. Maybe we just need to look again.

If you spend much of your day in the same office or routine—what small change could you make this week? Could you take your coffee break in a different spot? Walk a different route? Sit by a window and really notice the sky?

Whether we’re out in the wild or in the middle of a busy day, it’s not just the place that changes us. It’s the attention we bring to it.

Naomi Hurst

References

de Sousa Fernandes, M. S., Ordônio, T. F., Santos, G. C. J., Santos, L. E. R., Calazans, C. T., Gomes, D. A., & Santos, T. M. (2020). Effects of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Brain Function: A Systematic Review in Human and Animal Studies. Neural plasticity, 2020, 8856621. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8856621