Traffic, spreadsheets, laundry; everyday life can make our surroundings seem pretty dull. And it’s not like we can drop everything and go chase sunsets whenever we need a break, either.

So we at Bored Panda decided to brighten the week, at least visually. We put together a list of soothing pictures that show just how diverse and beautiful our world really is.

From lush forests to frozen lakes and rocky valleys, here’s a quick reminder that there are plenty of things on Earth worth appreciating. Including the ones around you.

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#1 A Deer

#2 A Path Through The Woods

“As with other dimensions of everyday experience, what we find aesthetically pleasing is not random but stems from our evolutionary history,” says Eric Haseltine, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and the author of Long Fuse, Big Bang.

“Just as our innate preference for sweet, calorie-rich food helped our ancestors survive in environments where food was scarce, our preferences for certain visual stimuli reflect the survival imperatives that confronted our ancestors.”

#3 My First Whale Encounter

#4 A Wave During King Tide

#5 First Light

Consider toxic substances, such as those in rotting meat or tainted water. Although our noses are the primary defenders against such threats, our eyes also play a role.

“Rotting meat, moldy bread, and dirty water usually have a distinct, ‘ugly’ look,” says Haseltine. “According to ecological valence theory, we generally prefer colors, such as green, that are associated with non-toxic substances and dislike those, such as brown, that are associated with objectionable substances.”

“Similarly, color combinations that occur in welcoming environments—such as sky blue and light brown tree bark in forests—‘match,’ whereas color combinations that do not occur naturally, ‘clash,’” the neuroscientist adds.

#6 Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan

#7 View From My Window In Florence, Tuscany

#8 A Tusker Elephant And Mount Kilimanjaro

I’m a wildlife photographer, and this was truly one of my dream shots. After spending hours in the field, I finally captured a single elephant perfectly aligned with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. But beyond the photo itself, Amboseli left me in awe—the vast landscapes, the freedom of the roaming tuskers, and the sheer beauty of it all. It feels like heaven on earth, and I believe it stands as a powerful example of how conservation should be embraced worldwide. It was taken from a safari vehicle in Amboseli National Park, Kenya in June 2025.

#9 My Best Boy Watching Beautifully Backlit Highland Cows During A Stunning Sunset

It makes sense that visual signals of toxins repel us and that signs of health attract us, but why do we like ocean views and sweeping vistas of mountains and forests?

“From a survival standpoint, oceans are an abundant source of food and are often fed by rivers of fresh water. Bodies of water also offer unrestricted sightlines, preventing nasty surprises, according to the ‘Refuge theory’ of environmental preference,” Haseltine explains.

“The Savanah and Park theories of environmental preference echo the advantages of wide-open spaces for predator avoidance on the one hand, and for visibility of food on the other, especially when such spaces are rich in green vegetation, signifying abundant food and water.”

#10 A Cat Between A Mattress And A Blanket

#11 The Moment A Bird Landed On The Water

#12 Switzerland

#13 Spring Time In My Hometown In Greece

As you can see from the pictures, even cities can feel calming. Just not all, of course.

Imagine two urban environments. One is dense, noisy, and dominated by concrete, traffic, signage, and visual clutter, with very little greenery. The other has open skies, abundant vegetation, a river, and a more spacious, harmonious layout.

According to the principle of biophilia (our attraction to nature), people prefer to live and work in the second environment.

But Haseltine claims the appeal of the second setting goes beyond vegetation and open sky. That’s because the first environment feels cluttered and cacophonous, while the second feels open and coherent, with scenic elements and color combinations commonly found in nature.

#14 Frozen Lake In Front Of A Mountain

On a freezing morning in Uummannaq - third attempt taking this image, didn‘t work out before, since everything was covered in snow. The gale force winds that kept me stuck on the island were kind enough to blow the snow off the frozen lake and reveal the awesome patterns underneath, creating the depth I was looking for.

#15 A Deer

#16 Antelope Canyon

Instead of an environment that feels cluttered and cacophonous, we want something that’s open and coherent, preferably with scenic elements and color combinations commonly found in nature. Visually, it feels more restful. And the term “restful” is important because it corresponds to a lower cognitive workload: we spend less time and energy filtering important information from distractions.

Cognitive psychologists describe this ease of processing as “perceptual fluency.” People generally prefer environments with high perceptual fluency—simpler, more coherent settings—over environments that are visually complex and mentally taxing.

#17 Volcan De Fuego, Guatemala

#18 1 Week In Socotra, Yemen. This Place Has Been On The Top Of My Bucket List For Over 15 Years. I Was Fortunate To Make The Dream A Reality

#19 The View From My School's Football Field

#20 Didn’t Expect To See This View When I Turned The Corner In The Swiss Alps

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but “Humans are, above all, visual animals: animals that evolved in primordial environments that shape who we are today,” Haseltine says. And thinking about why we like to look at certain things helps us understand where we live, the value of our house, the clothes we wear, and so on.

However, if you want to go further, check out these 30 Breathtaking Images That Offer A Glimpse Into The Mysteries Of The Universe.