In my opinion, the benefits of hiking are INFINITE. I’m a fan. I am constantly discovering new things to appreciate about the activity. But for you, my friend, I will condense everything into 10 of the most significant reasons why I love to hike. Hold on to your horses, because I’m ready to pull you onto my hiking-fanatic train whether you’re ready or not.
In many of the blog posts on this website, I am attempting to share with you an unbiased and less-emotional report of my discoveries while exploring the outdoors. I want you to gain as much knowledge as possible and leave my blog well-informed and prepared to crush your adventure goals! While this post won’t be as detached, I hope it truly conveys my love for hiking and motivates you to hike more than you ever have before.
Hiking Relieves Anxiety and Combats Depression
Hiking helps us simplify. Not only does the grandeur of the great outdoors give us a sense of awe, it puts us in our place. Being in nature can reduce your sense of self-importance in relation to something much larger and more powerful. It can help bring us to the present moment and away from whatever negative thoughts may be lingering. Every footstep you take on the trail shakes a bit of the negativity off your back.
These changes don’t just happen in your mind but in your entire body. Hiking will release many feel-good chemicals that trigger feelings of positivity and peace (such as endorphins, endocannabinoids, dopamine, and serotonin). You will also be breathing in more oxygen than usual and hopefully absorbing much more vitamin D than you would if you were spending the day inside. All of these things add up and join together to fight anxiety and depression in your mind.
There are Many Social Benefits to Hiking
Hiking alone can be rewarding and it’s one of my favorite things to do. But I would be lying if I said that hiking with others isn’t one of the best ways to strengthen a relationship. Because hiking presents a variety of different challenges and obstacles, it’s a great way to bond with friends, a partner, or family. Making plans to adventure with others keeps you accountable to your schedule, and you’re more likely to push through difficult terrain if you encourage each other. Plus, it’s safer to have another person to support you on the trail. If one of you experiences difficulty, gets dehydrated or is injured, the other can quickly get help. If you’re looking to make new friends with a shared interest in the outdoors, check out the local hiking groups on MeetUp, Facebook, or another social media platform.
Hiking Will Help You Sleep Better
Fact: Every day I go on a long hike, I sleep like a rock. Many scientific studies have shown that exercise in general boosts our sleep hormones, and other aspects of hiking intensify the effect. Being exposed to the sunlight and being outside during sunrise or sunset helps to regulate our circadian rhythms. In addition, hiking takes mental exertion. After a day of following maps and navigating trails, our brains need a break!
Hiking Gets You Outside and Unplugged
If you’re tired of staring at screens all day, hiking is the perfect antidote. It gets you out of the house and into the outdoors, where you can reconnect with yourself and nature. Being immersed in a different environment filled with the sounds of nature can help quiet our mental noise. It brings us a sense of well-being and peace that only outdoor activities can bring. Studies have proven that being outside positively impacts our mental health. Hiking gives us a space to process and find simplicity, one step after another.
Hiking Builds Bone Density
Bone density is vitally important as we age. The more dense your bones are, the less likely they are to break when you get injured. This is why older people are much more likely to break something when falling. However, you can actively work to make your bones stronger. There are two benefits of hiking that relate to bone density. First, you need vitamin D to absorb calcium. and we all know how important calcium is for having healthy bones. Second, hiking is a weight-bearing exercise. This means that your bones and muscles resist gravity and get stronger every time you go on a hike. The more intense the hike, the better it will be for your bones.
Your Self-Esteem and Confidence Will Increase
Hiking can make you feel capable of anything. Even just hiking once a month can have a noticeable impact on your self-image. It makes you feel strong, healthy, and at peace with your body. Multiple studies across the areas of fitness and mental health have proven that outdoor exercise leads to increased feelings of confidence. In the short term, you will be thrilled by completing the trail of the day. In the long term, you will learn to believe that your body is only limited to what your mind can handle. Hiking is a mental challenge just as much as it is a physical one. It even gets spiritual for many hikers – and that’s one of the many benefits of hiking. Your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being are all going to grow.
Hiking is Great for Your Cardiovascular System
Hiking is an extremely fun way to improve your cardiovascular health. The more your body adapts to handle intense exercise, the less likely you are to develop heart/lung problems in the future. You might also be able to reduce hypertension, improve glucose balance, and decrease cholesterol levels over time. As you attempt more difficult and challenging hikes, you will naturally be training your cardiovascular system. Your aerobic fitness and endurance capabilities will improve as you continue to (literally) reach new heights!
Hiking is Scalable
No matter what your abilities are, you can hike. There isn’t a person with a disability that couldn’t go out and enjoy the outdoors today. Hiking can be as simple as walking a trail in your local park, or as challenging as you want to make it. You can find entire websites devoted to creating hiking gear that makes it easier for everyone to get outdoors. Adaptive hiking trails are specifically designed to allow people with physical disabilities to enjoy them. There are also communities for hikers with disabilities, where the slowest hiker sets the pace for the rest of the group, and community discussions are enjoyed on the trail.
Choosing an easier trail and pace can make your hike relaxing and refreshing. However, you can also go all out; hiking can be used to cross-train for other sports or for pushing yourself to your physical and mental limits. The more you hike, the stronger your body and mind will get. Once you’ve completed simpler hikes, you can slowly build up by finding new trails to explore or planning a longer trip to somewhere exciting and new. Most national parks have a variety of trails that are ranked easy, moderate, and hard. Make sure to always consider your limits when you go out on the trail. Your hike, your rules.
Hiking Will Give You a Brain Boost
Not only does hiking pump oxygen throughout your body and increase calmness, it also sharpens your mind. You have to use spatial awareness, your memory, and attention skills to stay safe and on trail. Not only that, but learning a new skill like hiking improves the neuroplasticity of your brain. Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to change and adapt with new experiences, and it helps you to learn and also recover from injury more quickly.
Hiking Makes You Happy!
Adding on to the previous mental health benefits of hiking, there are some other ways it can make you happier. Hiking encourages creativity and can help you get out of any creative block. It provides the perfect opportunity to bond with friends or make new ones. Hiking also opens the door to a variety of other activities such as backpacking, trail running, mountaineering, rock climbing, camping, and much more.
I love hiking. Each and every one of these reasons opens the door to dozens of stories I have from hiking trips and adventures that I will never forget. If you’re curious to hear more specific reasons why I love to hike and explore, reach out on Instagram! From hip health to mindset changes, I have hiking-relevant tips coming out of my ears.
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