Wellness

Finding wellness in the woods

Heather Bisbee
By Heather Bisbee
Feb. 12, 2022

When I moved from the Arizona desert to the woods of western Massachusetts in pursuit of a Ph.D., the change in scenery was initially overwhelming. As I walked home that first evening through my forested neighborhood, I couldn’t help but picture countless horror movie scenarios. The vast trees and darkness felt suffocating. Soon afterward, classes began, and I dove headfirst into my research. As the lab became my primary home, my wooded neighborhood became a forgotten part of the scenery. 

Courtesy of Heather Bisbee
The author has enjoyed getting lost in the woods of western Massachusetts.

With the onset of the pandemic, I suddenly found myself in my house, staring out each morning into the trees. The drastic shift to Zoom meetings, presidential press conferences, family emergencies and sheer confusion created a mental health crisis that felt both global and personal. I found comfort in the simple scenery beyond my window, and I eventually ventured out. 

What began as an avoidance of cabin fever quickly evolved — from brief jaunts during lunch breaks to longer weekend adventures on more distant trails. The vast network of paths running right behind my own home astonished me. I often got lost that summer, and somehow getting lost was the best part of the journey.           

I wouldn’t consider myself a particularly avid hiker, and I certainly couldn’t keep up on an extended backpacking trip. Even so, I continue to find solace in the backyard woods of my own neighborhood. Whether I’ve had a long week at the lab bench or cooped up at a desk, the lure of the woods invites exploration. 

My slow, rhythmic walking pace may not win any medals for speed, but it is an act of meditative awareness. This is far more effective for me than any guided meditation, as I allow my mind to wander with my feet. And when I allow myself to get too lost, at least I know I’m never too far from home.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition monthly and the digital edition weekly.

Learn more
Heather Bisbee
Heather Bisbee

Heather Bisbee is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and plans to pursue a career in scientific publishing. She served as an intern in the ASBMB publications department.

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Opinions

Opinions highlights or most popular articles

What we lost: Two early-career researchers share their pandemic experiences
Essay

What we lost: Two early-career researchers share their pandemic experiences

Nov. 30, 2023

“We have learned the immense importance of having an unswerving mentor, a supportive institution and an understanding civil society … We are determined to bounce back with vigor and passion.”

NIH diversity supplements offer a pathway to independence
Funding

NIH diversity supplements offer a pathway to independence

Nov. 29, 2023

These funding mechanisms have been underutilized. The ASBMB public affairs staff offers recommendations to change that.

10 tips to get you through your Ph.D. program
Essay

10 tips to get you through your Ph.D. program

Nov. 29, 2023

“All of us who have survived graduate school share a bond,” Danielle Guarracino writes. “In that spirit, here’s some advice.”

The inside scoop on NSF fellowships
Funding

The inside scoop on NSF fellowships

Nov. 28, 2023

National Science Foundation program directors share how grad students and postdocs can secure coveted funds.

A chapter builds connections
Student Chapters

A chapter builds connections

Nov. 27, 2023

The ASBMB helped Lauryn Ridley build a community among her peers: “It’s outside the classroom, and you can be free to relate to other people who are going through the same things that you’re going through.”

Community Day broadens impact of DiscoverBMB
Annual Meeting

Community Day broadens impact of DiscoverBMB

Nov. 27, 2023

The ASBMB Science Outreach and Communication Committee is organizing its second annual event to inspire local high school students — this time in San Antonio.