Time crunches, layoffs and increased workloads, difficult coworkers, employee-monitoring software, hybrid schedules … desk sharing? Many of us, whether telecommuting or on-site, know that workplace culture has been uniquely filled with tension lately. Got vacation days? Be sure to use ’em. But when you can’t leave the grind behind, you may be pleasantly surprised about how much power you have to shift from a pressured mind-body experience to a peaceful one. An easy and accessible tension tamer is to stream a nature video at your desk. You can do this while using a split screen to multitask (it takes just a moment to search for how-tos for your desktop, tablet, laptop or mobile).
In a 2022 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers in Switzerland and Germany measured lower heart rates and increased parasympathetic activity (the chill-out response moderated by the vagus nerve that you might have heard about) in subjects who watched nature videos. Other research explores how viewing nature seems to have a restorative effect: Even if the images are virtual, the nervous system is still quieted and concentration may be improved.
A few of us at Sisters tried it — and it worked! Scroll down for some of our favorite relaxation vids with or without background music.
Videos with music
Hawaii 4K - Scenic Relaxation Film with Calming Music
Aloha vibes
Name of video: Hawaii - Scenic Relaxation Film With Calming Music
Time: 1 hour 26 seconds
Why we liked it: Hawaii is one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Enjoy this visual journey with ambient piano music that takes you across the Hawaiian island of Oahu, over the ocean to rain forests, mountaintops and more. One viewer’s comment on the video site read, “It is a wonderful combination of soothing music, beautiful scenery, marine life and just what is needed now.”
4K VIDEO (UTRAHD) AFRICAN WILDLIFE ANIMALS -MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE ,KENYA
Serene savanna
Name of video: African Wildlife Animals - Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Time: 2 hours 10 seconds
Why we liked it: This video allowed us to get up-close and personal, while remaining safe just inches away, with the amazing wildlife in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. Watch as elephants, giraffes and lions majestically stride across the savanna, zebras drink at the water hole, and the sun sets in a stunning rainbow of reds, oranges and yellows. We imagined ourselves glamour camping, or “glamping” it up, while we crossed this spectacular trip off our bucket lists. One viewer said, “It’s just amazingly beautiful and peaceful. My mom would cry watching this.”
Stunning Forests Views 4k with relaxation music
Feel-good forest
Name of video: Stunning Forests Views With Relaxation Music
Time: 1 hour 33 seconds
Why we liked it: An hour-long journey around the world that highlights forests and animals. Marvel at the variety of ecosystems in various seasons and all the animals that live in and near the forests. It’s a beautiful journey accompanied by a rolling piano track, and viewers have noticed with, “Just wowww! Thank you!”
4K Amazing Nature - Most Beautiful Places In America - Part #1 - Relax Video (Nature Sounds & Music)