Hiking benefits

Hiking is an activity that men, women, and children can enjoy. It gets you outside where you get to enjoy the natural surroundings while giving you a chance to breathe in the fresh air and discover the wonders nature has to offer. Besides, through hiking, you will get to exercise and feel energized and motivated. Regular hiking offers a range of benefits, from boosting fitness, improving mental well-being, and helping us in our social lives. Hiking Safaris are definitely on our list. Doing hiking has become a more intimate and environmentally friendly way to explore nature. Hiking adventures have gained popularity over years. Have you tried one before? Here are the hiking benefits.

1. Hiking makes us happier

Exploring nature decreases a phenomenon psychologists refer to as rumination. Ruminations are negative thought patterns that play over and over in our heads such as embarrassing or disappointing moments or thinking about everything that is wrong with life. Hiking will decrease rumination thus experiencing relaxation and happiness.

2. Hiking helps reduce stress

Our lives these days are busier than ever. Two to five jobs, full social calendars, and admins who keep us at a permanent level of stress below the surface. Participating in a hiking activity helps produce a calming effect by lowering cortisol levels (stress hormone) and blood pressure. Often referred to as a calming effect nature can offer.

3. Hiking makes us more generous

While hiking a specific trail for the first time, you will enjoy the natural features and even get to collect gems that you will return with home. This makes you appreciate mother nature and her bounty. As a result, you may develop positive emotions that make us feel heightened with a sense of gratefulness and increase your generosity towards those around us.

4. Reconnect with yourself

Sometimes in life, you may find yourself caught up in things that you fail to understand and you may feel like you are caught up in a race. Hiking is the perfect chance to reflect, recharge and reconnect with yourself when you have been too busy to notice. Hiking will give you an opportunity to take some time out and tune yourself. Tuning yourself will help you identify if you are feeling a little under the weather, or have been more stressed than usual.

5. Hiking reduces anxiety and depression 

Hiking is associated with reducing stress levels thus helping with depression. Besides, it has been proven to reduce anxiety by quieting the mind and allowing you to zone in on your breathing to a meditative state. For natural stress relief and an instant mood, boost go hiking in nature.

6. Nature inspires

There is nothing good like being in the forest, remote beach, or scaling a mountain to inspire your creativity. In fact, researchers have determined that switching off technology and immersing yourself in nature can increase your creativity and problem-solving skills by as much as 50%. Interacting with nature helps create more novel thoughts and walking encourages these thoughts to flow more freely. Next time you are stuck for ideas, head outside and let nature inspire you.

7. Hiking helps keep your body healthy

Hiking is a great low-intensity exercise that doesn’t put too much pressure on your joints, making it ideal for almost anyone. Long-distance hiking can burn calories for weight loss but it’s also great for building leg and core strength, boosting your immune system, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Having good health is a key factor in living a happy life so get out there and take in all that fresh air!

8. Hiking Improves memory and brain function

When a person is hiking, blood flows to the brain carrying with it oxygen and important nutrients. Studies have shown that this increased blood flow improves connections between neurons in the parts of the brain that are in charge of memory and cognitive function. Researchers found that older adults who exercised in short bursts had improved memory compared to those that didn’t. Hiking will help improve your focus and ability to process information, thus making you more productive. Don’t stay indoors, rejuvenate your brain with nature.

9. Hiking is more immersive

When was the last time you really concentrated on being truly present and in the moment? Hiking is more immersive because it makes you an active participant rather than a passive observer. The beautiful simplicity of getting out into nature removes that barrier between you and the natural environment. Everything is up close and real. No filters, just nature.

10. Hiking is fun

Once you head out for hiking in nature you are unaware of what you will find. Hidden waterfalls, incredible views, up-close encounters with wildlife, every walk has its own unexpected joys. Through hiking, you get to create incredible memories alone or with people to share them with. The beauty of nature is hard to ignore and best of all, it is free! So what’s stopping you? Book a hike with us and enjoy your happiness!

Challenge yourself and make it a goal this 2022 to go for one hike a month. Your soul will thank you for it.