Why Forest Bathing Training is the Perfect Choice for Your Third Age
I am starting to realise that there is a common and often limiting misconception that professional training must always be a means to an end – a way to climb a corporate ladder, build a business or secure a formal title to impress others.
But as we enter the third act of our lives, it seems the reason behind our learning shifts.
It becomes less about the doing and more about the being.
When people transition away from the rigid schedules of their working lives, wondering what to do in retirement becomes a central theme of their daily thoughts.
Although I am personally still working full time, I’m in a couple of early retirement groups on Facebook (a girl can dream, right?!), and my inbox is becoming a window into this future transition.
For example, Sue wrote to me explaining that she was a retired educator and after a career spent in adult education, she wanted to join our upcoming Nature Connection and Forest Bathing Guide course. She shared that she has lost both a partner and a parent in recent years and was emerging from her grief with motivation and raw honesty. She told me that she really didn’t want to spend her remaining years sitting indoors counting aches and pains. She felt she still had a lot left to give and learn.
From what I’m seeing, Sue is not the only one feeling like this.
If you’ve found yourself wondering what to do in retirement to stay engaged, inspired and connected, training in Forest Bathing is a powerful and life-affirming choice for this particular chapter of life.
Why would I Train if I don’t want to Start a Business?
If you’re considering what to do in retirement, you’re probably looking for ways to deepen your own personal interests rather than start a demanding second career. You’d join our training with no intention of working forty hours a week to build a brand with a complex marketing strategy including the dreaded social media 🤣 Rather, it seems like you’d choose to train because you want to deepen your personal connection to nature because of the proven health benefits of nature connection, and to share that gift within your existing circles – friends, family and local community groups.
I’m learning that training provides the why and the how behind the magic many have already felt while slowly walking through a sun-dappled woodland. It gives a structural framework and authenticity that allows you to hold that space safely and intentionally for others. It turns a casual hobby into a safe and efficient practice that can actually change lives.
Would you agree that finding a path that offers both personal satisfaction, health benefits and a way to give back to your wider community including the natural world is both a rare and beautiful thing?
Life can be so busy during our primary working years that it is often impossible to follow our true dreams until we retire from work or cut our hours down significantly. I could even make a case that it’s not even possible to realise what our true passions are until we have the time to reflect and notice what’s calling. When looking for what to do in retirement to make the most of the time we have finally gained back, that might even be our first opportunity to find a balance of social activities and learning opportunities that nourish the soul.
What to do in Retirement: Cultivate a New Sense of Purpose
It’s well recognised that for many, the transition out of the workforce can feel like a loss of identity. We spend decades being the teacher, the manager or the director and suddenly that title is gone. When deciding what to do in retirement, finding a new role that feels authentic is vital. Forest Therapy training allows you to step into the role of a guide – someone who holds the door open for others to experience the healing power of the trees in a way that is personal to them.
So, less teaching and instructing and more facilitating – how refreshing!
This is not about being an expert in botany or knowing every Latin name of every wildflower. It is about presence. It’s about learning the art of the invitation and understanding how to help others slow down in a world that is constantly speeding up. As you contemplate what to do in retirement, consider the legacy of peace you could leave by introducing your grandchildren or your neighbours to the wonders of Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing).
How does Training in Forest Bathing improve my Mental Health?
Finding meaningful things to do in retirement is crucial for our emotional wellbeing. For many people, this period involves navigating significant life transitions, including grief or the quietude that follows leaving a long-term professional identity behind. Training in Shinrin Yoku offers a gentle yet powerful way to process these changes.
By learning to guide Forest Therapy activities, you move beyond time in nature to truly noticing nature. This structured learning provides a sense of purpose that keeps the mind sharp, curious and engaged. It shifts the focus from what has been lost to what is still to be discovered in the curve of a leaf, the sparkle of a dew drop or the scent of damp earth. Engaging with a community of like-hearted trainees prevents the isolation that can sometimes creep into later life, replacing it with a shared passion for growth and Nature Connection. Best of all, you get to do this without the feeling of juggling ‘all of the things’ that perhaps plagued you in earlier years.
When you are deciding what to do in retirement, choosing a path that supports your mental resilience is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
How does Training improve my Physical Health?
If you are thinking about what to do in retirement to stay active without over-exerting yourself, Forest Bathing is the perfect low-impact option. We often hear the phrase “use it or lose it” and this Nature Connection training encourages you to spend consistent, quality time outdoors moving slowly, noticing with all of your senses, and becoming one with nature.
Unlike high-impact activities, Shinrin Yoku is accessible and sustainable even for those in their later years. Instead of counting aches and pains indoors, you are out in the fresh air, moving mindfully through the landscape.
The practice incorporates all the senses, which can help improve balance, coordination and spatial awareness. By choosing this as what you do in retirement, you are making a proactive choice to support your healthy longevity.
The scientifically proven physiological benefits of being among trees – lower blood pressure, reduced cortisol levels and a boosted immune system – are well-documented and particularly beneficial as we age. It ensures you remain young at heart and physically capable of enjoying your local woodlands and coasts at a pace that works for you, for many years to come.
What to Do in Retirement: Connect with a Like-Minded Community
One of the most beneficial thing you can do in retirement is connect with your community. Our accredited Forest Bathing Guide training brings together people from all walks of life who share a common love for the natural world.
This is not just any old course; it is an entry point into a global movement of people dedicated to Nature Connection and the benefit it brings to people and planet. You will find yourself in conversations that go deeper than the weather, discussing the rhythms of the seasons and the quiet wisdom of the forest and the river.
When you’re exploring what to do in retirement, the social element cannot be understated. Having a group of peers who value your life experience, encourage your learning and celebrate your progress as a guide provides a wonderful safety net of friendship and support.
Starting Your New Chapter
As Sue so delightfully put it, she wants her family and friends to look at her and ask, “What are you up to now?!” and never be surprised by the answer.
This chapter is perhaps one of your last opportunities to continue to learn and contribute to the world.
Retirement should not be a period of winding down; it should be a period of opening up.
It is your time to finally listen to that quiet voice that has been calling you toward the trees for years. If you are looking for what to do in retirement that brings genuine joy, provides a sense of service and keeps you healthy in body and mind, we would love to have you join our Nature Nerd community.
It starts with Forest Bathing Guide Training.
Where will you take it from there?
👉🏼 Download the info pack here to learn more about our upcoming Forest Bathing training
