ADHD and the Allure of the Outdoors

In this episode, we are joined by developmental pediatrician Mark Bertin and meditation teacher Mark Coleman to explore how time in nature can support focus, calm, and emotional regulation for people with ADHD. They discuss why outdoor environments naturally engage the ADHD brain, how sensory experiences like sound, movement, and light help regulate attention, and what research tells us about the mental health benefits of spending time outside. The conversation also highlights simple ways to bring nature into daily life, even for those living in cities or with limited access to green space. From mindful meandering and vigorous walks to gardening and small daily rituals, this episode offers practical ideas for reconnecting with the outdoors. As both guests emphasize throughout the conversation, the most powerful step is simply to go outside. Mark Bertin, MD, is a developmental pediatrician in private practice in Pleasantville, New York. He is the author of books that integrate mindfulness into the rest of evidence-based pediatric care, including How Children Thrive, The Family ADHD Solution, Mindful Parenting for ADHD, and Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Teen ADHD, and a contributing author for Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids and Teens. He is on faculty at New York Medical College and The Windward Institute and on advisory boards for Common Sense Media and Reach Out and Read. He has also served on the board of directors for the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD). His blog covering topics in child development, mindfulness, and family is available through PsychologyToday.com, Mindful.org, and elsewhere. For information about his online mindfulness classes and other resources, visit developmentaldoctor.com. Mark Coleman is an insight meditation teacher who has been teaching meditation retreats worldwide since 1997. He is passionate about integrating meditation and nature and regularly leads wilderness retreats through his organization, Awake in the Wild, where he also offers nature-based meditation teacher trainings. He is also the co-founder of the Mindfulness Training Institute, where he co-leads yearlong mindfulness teacher trainings in Europe and the United States. The author of four books—Awake in the Wild; Make Peace With Your Mind; From Suffering to Peace; and A Field Guide to Nature Meditation: 52 Mindfulness Practices for Joy, Wisdom, and Wonder—he is currently working on a new book on mindfulness and ADHD, written from the perspective of a meditation teacher who also has ADHD. He lives in Sausalito, in Marin County, California, and likes nothing more than to spend his time hiking, biking, and kayaking outdoors. Learn more about Mark and his work at markcoleman.org and awakeinthewild.com.