Any type of movement and exercise is good for your health, but this article explores why you should opt for hiking as the best means of promoting your health. Since the lockdown of 2020, we are all used to staying indoors more, and the appeal of hiking has increased tenfold because it not only lets you recharge and connect with nature but also lets your mind wander freely without being distracted by your phones. Hiking regularly can give you more benefits than other forms of exercise. It can strengthen your body, sharpen your mind, calm your emotions, make you more creative, and improve your relationships. This is all because instead of exercising indoors in your home or gym, you will be hiking outdoors on an uneven path among nature. Being around trees and hiking, in general, has been so beneficial that doctors have begun prescribing it as a form of treatment for various illnesses. Here are some of the benefits of hiking apart from what we have already mentioned –
Recharges Your Batteries
You will feel refreshed when you get out of the polluted city air and breathe fresh, crisp air on a mountain top. Soaking in the beauty of nature and not rushing through the tasks will put your mind at ease, and you will want to plan out the next hike as soon as you get done with one.
The Views Make It Worth Your While
The best reason to start hiking is the peace you will get after reaching the end and looking at the view. Hikes don’t necessarily have a top to go, but they have several beautiful views along the way that makes you appreciate the destination and the journey.
Helps You Socialize
Hiking is not a solo experience, even if you are alone. You will always manage to make friends because you will need to ask for directions, recommendations, essentials, help, to take your photo, etc. Some people open up entirely on hikes with strangers because there is seemingly no harmful consequence to telling strangers your life story. You tend to learn how to socialize because you are forced to talk to strangers if you have no friends on a hike. The bonds made in the wild are the strongest as you go through a series of challenges together.
Makes You Resilient
Spending time in the wild with fewer appliances and the internet will make you more creative and resilient. You will have to make do with a lot of things, and you will be able to learn how to survive in many situations.
Let’s You Escape
Apart from giving you lots of Vitamin D, going on a hike with your friends, family, or even solo can help you step away from your day-to-day life. Being bombarded with a constant stream of notifications, emails, messages, traffic, etc., can have a toll on your mind, and just taking a break for even an hour or two can help you slow down and relax. You can take this opportunity to understand your priorities as well. When you are not distracted by work or hypnotized by media, you can escape and truly live your life for some time. When you are this free, suddenly, a lot of things will make sense, and you will have a newfound appreciation for items that you had never given a second thought before. So when are you going on your next hike?