One of the biggest problems companies have to deal with these days is burnout at work. The World Health Organization says that burnout is a “work-related phenomenon. “It is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that comes from long-term stress at work, not just being tired.

Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report says that 44% of workers around the world deal with stress every day. A JobStreet survey found that almost 50% of Singaporean workers feel burnt out because they are overworked, don’t have enough time for everything, and are always connected to technology.

Businesses have to pay a lot.  Harvard Business Review says that companies lose more than $322 billion a year because of burnout, which leads to lower productivity, higher turnover, and higher healthcare costs.  When employees are under a lot of stress all the time, they are more likely to stop working, call in sick, or leave the company.  Traditional wellness options like gym memberships, office snacks, or one-time retreats don’t even begin to cover it.

It’s clear that modern workplaces need deeper, science-based solutions that get to the root of burnout. One of the best options is right in front of you: forest bathing.

Why Traditional Corporate Wellness Programs Don’t Work

Most corporate wellness programs only deal with problems on the surface.  Meditation apps, yoga classes, and mental health webinars can all help, but they don’t always make a difference that lasts.  A Deloitte report from 2023 found that 70% of employees who took part in regular wellness programs saw little to no change in their stress levels. The reason? These programs don’t give employees what they need most: time, space, and a full reset of their nervous system.

Burnout isn’t solved by a 15-minute meditation. It happens when you keep overloading your brain and body, and to fix it, you need experiences that let your brain and body really rest and get back on track.  That’s where forest therapy, which is also called “forest bathing,” comes in.

What is forest bathing? A science-based way to stay healthy

In the 1980s, Japan came up with the idea of “forest bathing,” or shinrin-yoku (森林浴).  It’s not about hiking or working out; it’s about spending time in nature on purpose.  Participants slow down, use their senses, look around, and connect with nature in a mindful way.

It has a big effect on stress.  A study published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine in 2020 found that spending time in the forest can lower cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) by up to 16% and blood pressure by 13% after just two hours.  Chiba University did another study that showed that being in forests makes natural killer (NK) cells work harder, which boosts the immune system.

“Forest therapy is more than a walk in nature; it’s a way to reset our nervous systems and rebuild resilience. We see stressed-out teams transform in just one session.” Betty Fang, Certified Forest Therapy Practitioner, Other Options Healing

How Nature Therapy Rewires the Burnt-Out Brain

Spending time in natural environments triggers measurable changes in the brain. A Stanford University study found that just 90 minutes in nature reduces activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain linked to rumination, anxiety, and depression. Similarly, research from the University of Utah revealed that people’s problem-solving skills improved by 50% after three days immersed in nature.

This happens because nature activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs rest, recovery, and digestion. In contrast, modern workplaces keep us in “fight or flight” mode, constantly connected, overstimulated, and reactive. Forest therapy flips that switch, giving the mind and body a chance to reset.

Why Singapore Is the Perfect Place for Forest Bathing

Few cities are better suited to forest therapy than Singapore. Known globally as a “City in Nature,” Singapore boasts over 400 parks and 350 nature areas and is home to more than 4 million trees (National Parks Board, 2024). There are many ways to get away from the concrete jungle without leaving the city. For example, you can walk through the lush trails of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the calm waters of MacRitchie Reservoir, or the Singapore Botanic Gardens.  This natural abundance makes the city a great place for businesses that want to add forest bathing Singapore to their wellness plans.  These guided experiences help teams unplug from screens, slow down, and reconnect with themselves and each other, often with more meaningful results than any corporate workshop.

Forest Bathing vs. Traditional Wellness: A Clear Comparison

Forest therapy is different from other types of therapy because it works on both the mind and the body at the same time. It calms the nervous system, clears the mind, and strengthens social ties. It doesn’t fix things quickly; it really heals.

Benefits that make Teams and Businesses better

Many times, teams at companies that use forest therapy change a lot. Some of the good things are:

• Improved focus and creativity: Being in nature helps your brain work better and solve problems.
• Stronger communication and trust: Shared experiences in nature make teams stronger by improving communication and trust.
• Less absenteeism and turnover: Employees who are healthier are less likely to miss work or quit.
• Higher ROI on wellness investment: The World Health Organization says that for every $1 spent on mental health, $4 in productivity is gained.

These benefits have a direct effect on company culture, employee retention, and the bottom line, all while making the workplace a place where people want to work.

How to Include Forest Bathing in Your Business

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to bring forest therapy into your business. To get started, do this:

• Work with professionals who are certified:  Work with experienced guides like Betty Fang, who is a certified forest therapy practitioner in Singapore. Betty has worked with mental health organizations and institutions like the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore to make forest bathing available to a wide range of people.
• Start with a small amount:  Try out a half-day or full-day session with one department to see how it works.
• Integrate on a regular basis:  Regular forest bathing sessions every three or six months keep the benefits going.
• Add reflection activities:  Encourage teams to write in journals or talk about what they learned after each session to make sure they remember it.

How a Forest Bathing Session Works

Here are some things that happen in a typical corporate session:

• Guided sensory immersion: Slow walks that focus on sight, sound, smell, and touch.
• Mindful breathing: Ways to relax the nervous system.
• Group reflection: Sharing experiences to build stronger bonds between team members.
•  Integration activities: Nature journaling, tea ceremonies, and group discussions are all examples of integration activities.

At the end of the session, participants say they feel calmer, more focused, and more connected to both nature and their coworkers.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Corporate Wellness Is in Nature

Burnout isn’t going away, but the way we deal with it can change. Instead of just offering wellness benefits on the surface, companies can offer experiences that really help people’s mental health. Forest therapy is based on science, doesn’t cost much, and is very natural.   It helps people do their best at work and at home, calms the mind, and makes teams stronger.

Businesses in Singapore can find the answer right outside their office window. You can give your team a boost and change what well-being at work means by getting them out in the trees, birds, and fresh air. The next big thing in corporate wellness isn’t digital; it’s natural.

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