Trekking the great outdoors is more than just visually stimulating. Walking in nature is an opportunity for us to listen to our soul, tune in to our body and refresh our mind. As the world progresses (or appears too) with technology, urban surroundings, and fast-paced living, we may sometimes feel overwhelmed. Society has glorified overachieving busy lifestyles and now we are experiencing stress, burnout and chronic health problems as a result. Even if we not at the extreme spectrum of burnout, we may find that we don’t have much time for ourselves. Our soul. Self care. And just pure fun.
There are many reasons why nature is healing. Walking outdoors can reveal areas in our life that we have neglected and need our attention. We may find an answer we’ve been seeking but were unable to hear due to busyness. It may be as simple as refreshing your entire being and giving you a much-needed boost of joy. The beautiful thing about nature is, we can all receive something uniquely beneficial to our lives – at the right time. A lot of our troubles today are due to overburdened living and a lack of patience. We are forfeiting the ancient wisdom of the forest and open-air and replacing our inner voice with external satisfaction and noise. Or as the old book says, “satisfying the flesh”. And while there is nothing wrong with consumerism, hard work and enjoying things of the world – there’s a fine line that we mustn’t cross if we want to experience deep fulfillment in our soul, body and mind. Or in simple terms – peace and stillness of the mind. As we dive into this conversation we want to explore some causes of stress but also how to unwind. When we learn about ourselves we are better able to know when to slow down, and when to take action. From a calm, well centered and grounded position, we can make decisions that are right for us. Even if others don’t agree. When we are acting from this position we are more likely to experience peace, stability, joy – and overall health.
1. Replenish your brain cells
Going for a hike can aid in releasing built-up stress and tension. The physical act of walking – exercise – is a well-documented activity for stress relief. Scientists recently discovered that we can generate new brain cells in our adult years. Previously, we believed it was only in our younger years. Stress can affect our brain cells so it’s good to know that we aren’t fixed with a set of cells that can not be restored. Watch: How To Produce More Brain Cells – The Neurogenesis Diet & Lifestyle by Brant Cortright2. Shrink problems and highlight solutions
Walking in nature can help minimise our problems. Think of those times when you were feeling stressed or overwhelmed and after you exercise, the issue doesn’t seem so big anymore. Hiking can take us away from the problem for a moment. If you’ve heard of the saying “sleep on it” – it’s the idea of giving the problem some rest rather than continuously fixating on it. You may find after a hike that a solution or idea will come to you.3. Restore or deepen spiritual growth
Making time to enjoy nature can inspire you to pray, meditate or seek wisdom rather than trying to force yourself through life. As you look out into nature at the trees, fauna, the birds and even the weather it can be a great reminder of how the seasons work together. And how everything flows even though there is change. There is a deeper wisdom taking place and throughout the seasons, there is a purpose. Summer all year long, just like stress non stop, would mean no contrast and no room for breathing. We need the ebb and flow, just as we need the array of seasons.4. Fuels appreciation which can lead to more joy
Appreciation is the pathway to joy – and a joyful heart is more likely to attract healthy relationships and opportunities. Hiking can naturally boost our appreciation without much effort. The simple act of walking amongst incredible beauty and fresh air is invigorating. It’s not tied to anything or anyone – it’s purely fueling your spirit.
5. Helps us to choose or create healthier habits
Becoming aware of our habits means paying attention to what may influence our choices. Stress is often a cause for unhealthy eating and reaching for an extra serving or sugary option. We may very well be endeavoring to work hard, be healthy and live a happy life but find ourselves in yoyo-cycles or falling back into old ways soon after starting. While endeavoring to make changes, it is always beneficial to learn about yourself and why you want to make those choices.6. Quieten the worldly noise
The open space outside without technology, other voices, speed and the cultural fastness – may awaken something in you. Who were you before the world told you who you are? Who are you if all these layers of expectation, cultural influence and “ego” tendencies are stripped away? What’s your identity – does it depend on all these things? Do you like yourself without the success, fame, money, attention, status? Do you feel love for yourself? These are deep questions. Hiking can be a positive tool for anyone’s lifestyle as a way to bring up blind spots and reveal to us what areas we are neglecting or overcompensating eg: over working. It doesn’t stop there though. Walking in nature creates space for us to listen and be in the moment. In this state, we may be able to hear “why” we are doing certain things or uncover parts of ourselves that we have ignored. Furthermore, it may introduce an idea or solution that allows to make positive changes. This could influence our health and work life.7. Draws Subconscious Habits and Traumas to the Surface
We can be so busy in our lives and if we don’t have an active spiritual life or room to be still, we may not be aware of habits and traumas that are lying beneath our conscious. Why is it important to face these hidden areas of our brain and mind? When we understand ourselves on a deep level we are more likely to live our lives more clearly. But also if you’ve found yourself in unhealthy cycles (i.e food, relationships, procrastination, quitting on new endeveours shortly after starting) and you wonder why you keep repeating the same patterns, it could be a matter of unaddressed patterns of thinking. Nature allows us the space to enter into a different space in our minds. The overactive doing part is able to quieten for a moment. Relaxation is the best state for seeing complex hidden aspects of ourselves. It allows the intuition to speak and while walking in nature, we are more likely to hear ourselves due to a lack of distraction and tasks. This is also the best state of mind for making positive changes because they come entirely from you – not an external source (ie. social media, other peoples expectations).8. Inspire creativity and boost quality productivity
The idea that rest, recovery and introspection can be good for our work seems counter-intuitive but it is paramount. It shows us that everything is not entirely up to us and that the world does not sit on our shoulders. We may be limiting ourselves when we are constantly pushing everything to the limits and relying solely on long hours without rest. There are paths that are more efficient and require less strain. Discovering these alternative or unknown paths can be inspired by nature.9. Serve from a full cup
Think – if you are well and you treat others well. If you expand, this flows over to others too. If you make time to make peace with yourself, others will feel this from you. Sometimes what holds us back from self-care is the feeling that we will let others down by putting ourselves “first”. But we cannot serve from an empty cup.10. Balances the Central Nervous System
Walking in nature at a consistent pace can support our nervous system by releasing excess energy. Stimulants such as coffee, being too busy, stress, emotional traumas, various foods (i.e sugary processed foods, caffeine) can burden our Central Nervous System (CNS). – leaving our overall wellbeing out of balance. A great way to self-check whether we are out of balance is to hike in the great outdoors. It will reflect back to you the current condition you are in. If you feel incredible or mentally lighter after a hike (even a nice tired feeling) but you are not experiencing this in daily life – use this as a reference to make some healthy changes in your everyday routine.11. Reminds Us To Look Up
Technology has drawn our eyes downward. Intense focus on our phones or computers for long periods of time can affect our eye health, as well as posture. This may result in headaches, tension, back pain and difficulty concentrating. Walking outdoors and gazing at the ever lush greenery, blue skies and natural surrounding is a healthy way to balance our focus and body health. It’s a natural booster for the brain and mind too.12. Keeps Novelty Alive
If we are not seeking out adventures, life can become stagnant and routine. Ensuring our lifestyle includes novelty and surprise is not only healthy but it can ignite new ideas and creativity. It does require us to ditch the mentality that life is all work and no play. New experiences and making time for the unfamiliar can boost your overall success.
13. Allows Us To Breathe Deeper
In our busy, fast-paced, competitive world – we may find that we are breathing shallow. Tension, anxiety and stress causes us to switch into survival mode whereby oxygen can become trapped in our chest, shoulders or neck rather than flowing to our entire bodies. Deep breathing is not just about feeling calmer. It’s a vital practise for the entire health of our bodies and brain. Every part of you – your organs, blood, heart, muscles – needs an adequate amount of daily oxygen to function optimally.Symptoms of shallow breath may be:
- Anxiety
- Poor digestion
- Dizzyness
- Fatigue
- Reactive rather than responsive
- Fretful
- Frustrated
- Lack of patience
- Lack of clear thinking
- Low tolerance towards yourself or others
- Fitness becoming stagnant
14. Clears out emotions
Circumstances and people in our life may evoke certain emotional reactions. When we act on those emotions without allowing ourselves time to calm down and reflect before responding, we may say or do things we later regret. But sometimes our emotions can lead us to believe things are a lot worse than they are. Hiking in nature is a useful way to practice self-awareness and mindfulness. After walking for a period of time you may find yourself sinking into a calmer state without much thought or force. Situations that were rattling you may not seem so gloomy. It’s not that you need to hike every day to feel this sense of calm and clarity. But rather you can reflect on your trail walks as a reminder of how it feels not to act on emotion but rather to engage in an activity and let your emotions quieten down before responding to any situation.
15. Nature teaches us to live in a loving state
Nature has this funny way of exposing the truth of who we are – to ourselves. If we are daring enough to listen and act, our journey will become more aligned with the real us. We’ll show up in the world as our true selves and with less fear of disappointing others. Nature reminds us that life is not about being perfect. The outdoors fills us up with love and when we live with love flowing in and out of us, life is a little more calmer, clearer and joyful. If you are new to hiking or looking for some extra motivation to hit the outdoors a little more regularly, check out the list below:How to get started
- Explore your own state. If you are time poor or a full time worker, it may be challenging to go on long trails or hike overnight. Find locations closest to you and set yourself a goal to hit the trails once a month minimum.
- Live a healthy lifestyle daily. Choose plant foods, make time for exercise and drink plenty of water everyday. This will prepare you for your hikes and keep you energised.
- Post on social media requesting others to join you. Social hikes are just awesome! Walking and talking is therapeutic, and it’s also a more relaxed way to get to know people. You’ll find those nerves and barriers break down a lot easier when you’re outside trekking with people. There’s little room for worrying about trivial things like how we look!
- Find boots or sneakers that are really supportive for your feet. Honestly, this will make all the difference in your hikes. If the only thing you can invest in is good footwear, it’s worth it. Pop in the comments below your hiking boot recommendations!
- Walk light. If you are heading out on weekends for a few hours, choose light clothing and take less with you. This is a great way to commute to your brain that you are content with less. It’s also very comfortable and less strain on your body.
- Leave your phone in your bag or pocket. Try walking without using your phone, not even for photos. Let yourself get into the zone without interruption. After you have enjoyed this deep state of relaxation, whip out the phone take your pics and, put the phone back. Check the photos when you are home. You’ll find yourself less concerned about perfect imagery too!
- Write about your experience hiking. Whether for a blog or your own personal journal, writing has been found to be a useful tool in healing and self-reflection. Write for us too and enjoy the process of rehashing your hiking experiences again with words. It’s not only enjoyable but it also allows you to reflect on areas in a deeper way when you write.
In summary
Hiking – or just purely being in nature – is a powerful antidote to many issues we face in this world. The more of us that shake the shackles of consumerism, busyness and the “more more more” mentality – we can be an example of true contentment and fulfillment. The more we heal as a whole, as a community, and globally – the less strain we place on each other and our environment at large. ~
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