Managerial stress and nature: what does science say?
Ulrich’s recovery theory and why even 5 minutes in nature can change your day
Being a manager today often means living in a state of constant alert.
Emails, deadlines, meetings, team responsibilities, and results: the mental load is extremely high, and often chronic.
But our nervous system is not designed to withstand this kind of pressure for long.
The good news? Nature can help us. And it’s not just a feeling: science tells us so too.
🌿 Ulrich’s theory of stress recovery
In the 1980s, researcher Roger Ulrich formulated a theory that has now been widely confirmed:
just a few minutes of exposure to a natural environment is enough to activate psychophysiological recovery from stress.
In a now famous study, Ulrich demonstrated that patients with a view of natural landscapes recovered more quickly and with less medication than those who looked at a wall.
Since then, dozens of studies have confirmed his findings in the workplace as well.
In particular, it has been observed that looking at natural landscapes, even in photos or videos, can:
- lower blood pressure,
- reduce cortisol (stress hormone),
- improve mood and decision-making ability,
- increase tolerance to daily stress.
💼 Managers and nature: a strategic connection
Now more than ever, managers need quick but effective tools to recharge.
Contact with nature—real or imagined—is one of them. And it’s available to everyone.
Here are three ways to use Ulrich’s theory in your daily life as a manager:
1. Look outside (often)
Every 90 minutes, get up and look at the sky, a tree, or the landscape outside your window.
Even a minute of “green gazing” activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
2. Bring nature inside
Incorporate natural elements into your workspace: a plant, a stone, an image.
The mere presence of natural stimuli reduces visual and mental stress.
3. Daily regeneration rituals
Integrate mindful micro-breaks with breathing, silence, and natural stimuli (sounds, images).
Even immersive videos of natural landscapes can have a measurable calming effect.
📈 Nature is not a break: it is a leadership strategy
A focused, clear-headed, and rejuvenated manager makes better decisions, communicates with more empathy, and creates a positive atmosphere.
In this sense, nature is a concrete lever for performance and well-being.
You don’t need to move to the woods: you just need to know how to integrate nature into your daily routine.
This is the principle of Regenerative Leadership, on which my method is also based.
🎯 Would you like to integrate these tools into your work (or your team)?
Through Nature Coaching and Regenerative Team courses, I accompany managers and HR professionals in concrete experiences of reconnection, even within the company.
📘 If you want to get started right away, download for free:
👉 “The 5 rituals for stressed managers”
A practical mini-manual inspired by nature to regenerate your leadership.
📩 https://mauro-nature-coach.com/percorso-leader/