Modalities of Spending Time in the Forest

This article examines spending time in the forest as a multidimensional form of human–nature engagement that ranges from incidental exposure to sustained and meaningful practice. While a growing body of research indicates that even passive contact with natural environments can support physiological regulation, emotional balance, and cognitive restoration, not all forest experiences develop into enduring practices. The article therefore distinguishes between isolated forest encounters and forest engagement as an ongoing practice, arguing that the latter is characterized not only by repetition, but also by intentionality, continuity, personal meaning, and integration into everyday life. Particular attention is given to four modalities of forest engagement: time in the forest as a free and accessible resource, guided forest therapy as a mindfulness practice, guided forest therapy as a pathway to nature connection, and time in the forest as a nature-based intervention. Rather than treating these modalities as fixed or mutually exclusive categories, the article conceptualizes them as dynamic modes of engagement that may remain occasional or evolve into sustained practices depending on a range of interacting variables. These include frequency, regularity, perceived benefit, accessibility, emotional meaning, agency, guidance, reflective integration, place attachment, and compatibility with daily life. By introducing these variables, the article offers a framework for understanding how forest engagement moves from momentary experience to repeated, embodied, and personally significant practice. It argues that the therapeutic and transformative potential of time in the forest depends not only on exposure itself, but on the quality, depth, and continuity of the relationship formed with the natural environment. In this sense, forest engagement is understood not merely as an activity, but as a potential practice of restoration, self-regulation, nature connectedness, and long-term well-being.