What a Short Virtual Nature Break Can Do
A 2024 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology explored what happens during a brief, immersive virtual nature session. Participants spent just ten minutes surrounded by nature sounds and imagery. Even in that short window, researchers saw meaningful shifts in both body and mood.
Participants experienced:
Increased heart-rate variability — a key sign the body’s relaxation response has switched on
Lower heart rate
Less anxiety and low mood
More comfort and enthusiasm
A boost in creativity and sense of connection
In simple terms: a few minutes in a calm, nature-based environment can help the nervous system downshift and restore.
Why a beach works
Beaches offer a unique kind of calm. Wide horizons, the steady rhythm of waves, and the natural soundscape give your brain simple, safe signals. When these cues surround you in VR, the body can finally let go—shoulders drop, breath slows, and attention resets.
How Gratitui builds for calm
Gratitui’s real 360° beaches and optional music and meditations are designed to invite this natural relaxation response. Whether you have ten minutes or just a few, you can drop into a beach and step back into your day feeling more grounded and clear.
For a deeper experience, pair your beach with a small ritual—light a candle, strike the bowl, move through the beads. These simple, repeated actions signal to your system that it’s safe to relax.
For the busiest days
When time is tight, see what the universe delivers with the Daily Flow - a randomized short beach moment, daily affirmation and simple message—a tiny reset to help you pause between tasks or meetings.
A simple, steady habit
These small moments of calm add up. A regular VR beach break won’t erase stress, but it can create space—space to breathe, to reset, and to return to your day with more ease.
Reference: Kumpulainen, S., Esmaeilzadeh, S., & Pesola, A. J. (2024). Assessing the well-being benefits of VR nature experiences on group: Heart rate variability insights from a cross-over study. Journal of Environmental Psychology.