Take a Hike
I’m a hiker. I’m Team Sloth all the way - I’ll get there when I get there. And when I say hike, what I mean is – an actual hike outside in the woods or on a greenway. There are a crap ton of mental health benefits to getting outside, even if you can’t go far or fast.
What is a hike really?
A hike is any walk on a greenway or trail, no matter how far you go. It could be a few hundred feet to a stream. It could be a thru hike all 2,190-ish miles of the Appalachian Trail. It could be anything in between. Distance is less relevant than time outside. In fact, research done at Harvard showed that as little as 20 minutes spent in nature can lower stress. That’s not even your whole lunch hour.
What can a hike do for me?
We already talked about how that time outside can lower stress – in fact it dramatically reduces the stress hormone cortisol in the body. It can also lower depression and anxiety. Hiking encourages mindfulness and gratitude, both of which have been shown to reduce these feelings. It gives your brain a break from all the stimulus we have in our day-to-day life. It’s like taking a big, deep breath for your body and soul.
Hiking exposes us to natural light, which can help us sleep better (yay for circadian rhythm!). Getting enough rest is key to being able to handle the stressors of life. When we aren’t rested, our window of tolerance (our ability to handle life and its stressors) is squished substantially, making it way harder to manage when things go sideways. We can think of a hike as literally opening our window!
Hiking also can reduce symptoms of PTSD. In fact, there are organizations that take veterans on hikes as a way to help manage and eliminate these symptoms. Warrior Expeditions is one of my personal favorites.
Hiking can foster social connections. A few years ago, I stumbled upon the thru hiking community – the several thousand people a year who attempt to hike big trails from one end to the other. These people have each other’s backs – from those who are attempting those big hikes to the trail angels that provide support and encouragement (if you want to see some of the thru hiker community in action, you can check out my friend Kim’s vlog of her hikes). And these aren’t the only solid humans I’ve met while hiking. Day hikers (those of us folks who are taking a much shorter hike than a thru hike) are also generally great. I’ve talked to many other hikers as I’ve slowly hiked up a mountain wondering where in the heck the top actually was. On one hike I ended up keeping pace with this really sweet retired couple and got to hear about their adventures and travels as we slowly climbed to the top. In this social media world that actually fosters less socialization, these connections can be incredibly life-giving.
Action Step
But I’ve never hiked. How do I get started? First, find a trail! Apps like All Trails and REI’s Hiking Project are great! Look for a trail that matches your ability. If you’re brand new, keep it short. Even if it’s five feet and you just stand on the trail and breathe you’ve done great. If you have mobility issues you can look for paved greenways.
Wear good shoes. Bring plenty of water, a snack, and all ten essentials. Wherever you take your hike, you’ll reap the amazing benefits it has to offer.
