BY
DHYANA PRAYASCITTA

Editor

Hype Issue #90

Published on:

Feb 11

2026

DHYANA PRAYASCITTA explores the benefits and healing power of swapping screens for nature when dealing with life’s tests

My mum used to take me to the sea whenever I felt anxious as a child. This occurred relatively often. When the looming thought of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) paved the way for a slight churn in my stomach, I was whisked off to East Coast Park to get a hit of salty air. 

I have always known the ocean to be a space of comfort, one that brought a steadiness to my constantly erratic nervous system. However, as I grew older, this routine slowly faded away. My parents had deemed me old enough to deal with my own woes, and I was left to take my own two feet to the beach, whenever I needed to. Sadly, I never followed through with this remedy, but instead, subconsciously built a new emotional escape route for myself – my phone. 

Recently, a new trend has been rocking the online world, one which actually encourages going against the habit of turning to our devices for solace. Young creators across platforms like TikTok and Instagram  have been promoting the act of “touching grass” – “spending time outside in nature or doing activities in the real world, instead of spending time on the internet”. 

So the last time that the lows of life took a swing at me like a ton of bricks, I decided it might be time to revisit some old routines and put my phone away.

Summer blues

When the term break rolled around in December, I was relieved to return to my hometown, Bali, and escape the noise of life in Singapore. Although I mostly grew up here, there was always a pleasing sense of comfort to go back home and spend time with my family. I was therefore none too pleased when I realised I had brought some emotional baggage along with me from the rough few months before the holidays.

This time, I wanted to attempt leaving my digital safe space and spend more time in nature to soothe my emotions. After all, I was in Bali and had plenty of access to large bodies of water  and greenery; I could definitely afford to “touch some grass”.

First, I deleted Instagram and TikTok from my phone. This deactivated the tendency to reach out for these applications whenever my wandering mind needed a pacifier. It felt unusual at first, but I let myself sit with the discomfort.

Getting off my phone

Young people are digital natives. It has become a repeated, and incredibly saturated reality in our generation – we run away from the real world and hide in our phones far too often. According to an article by Freedom, digital platforms are often used to subconsciously attain dopamine, as they provide an instantly comforting solution to real-world stress. However, the same article also noted that this action does not fix the problem, but rather only reduces the emotional severity of it.

Lim Yan Xuan, a Psychology Module Leader from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, shared that using screens as a “third space” to escape uncomfortable feelings only works as a short-term relief and distraction. “Over time, this pattern can become a form of avoidance-based coping. Avoidance feels regulating in the short term because it lowers emotional arousal and provides reassurance or distraction,” Ms Lim said.

However, what is swept under the carpet does not always stay hidden for long. Refusing to face difficult situations head-on can often lead to more emotional complications.

“When difficult emotions are escaped rather than explored, it can usually lead to emotional numbness, burnout or heightened sensitivity to stress,” commented Ms Lim.  She added that hiding away from our feelings only presented fewer opportunities to develop the ability to tolerate discomfort, and “learn that emotions are actually tolerable and transient”. 

I have recognised this pattern all too well in my life, in almost every uncomfortable situation. When I felt nervous, bored or sad, scrolling on TikTok always felt like an escape. I could observe and enjoy someone else’s life, which seemed frictionless, unlike mine. But, to my dismay, the problem stubbornly hovered over me like a cloud; It had not left. 

Nature as a balm

Now, without my phone as a free escape, I was left to look up at the dark cloud above me. It rained on me hard and often, forcing me to come face-to-face with the sadness of strained relationships and the anxiety of my future at university that I had been harbouring. 

Amidst all this, my cousins back in Bali took me to the sea frequently, and we spent hours surfing and sitting by the shore. The ocean still had the same effect on me as it did ten years ago. The lukewarm water, the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the deep blue stretching far out beyond me felt like a sweet reminder that everything passes in due time.

My cousins and I at Seminyak Beach, Bali (Photo credits: Dhyana Prayascitta)

The act of “touching grass” grounded me and worked as a balm to soothe my complicated emotions. According to the American Pyschological Association, “nature improves mental health by reducing cortisol, a stress hormone, lowering heart rates and boosting mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin”. It is unsurprising, then, that taking the time to be in tune with the natural environment can make you feel a little less weary. 

Ms Lim shared that, “Unlike phones, nature does not provide instant validation. Being in nature allows you to remain present with your internal experiences while feeling physically safe and contained”. She added that nature supports the development of internal resources such as patience, tolerance for discomfort, and a more grounded sense of self. These contribute to the inner voice which says, “I can stay with difficult feelings and survive them”. 

I love you, world

Botanic Gardens (left) and Uluwatu Beach (right) (Photo credits: Dhyana Prayascitta)

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It took me a while to adjust to a life without constantly reaching for my phone. However, habit swaps helped the most – surfing instead of scrolling, running in parks instead of comparing my life to those of people I see online. We all have our ways of coping with life’s surprises, but I have personally found “touching grass” to be of extraordinary help. There is something about tall canopies, deep oceans and sunny hills which never fails to remind us to seek acceptance, be where our feet are, and cherish every dip and dive of this beautiful journey we call life.  

Writer’s Note: A song I find sentimental and healing to listen to during my “nature time” is Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. Give it a listen!