Have you ever felt overwhelmed and just tired of everyone and everything?

A man dance-walking down stone steps. The text reads:

Hitting the trails is a great way to learn about yourself and your needs.

Patience

Hiking helped me cope with the daily stress of life. Before hiking, I would always have anxiety about the upcoming work week. After spending time in nature, I learned how to be patient.

Lord John Grey from Outlander saying,

Now, I can face uphill battles by taking things one step at a time until I reach the top!

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Take time to look around as you hike! It's time for you to self-reflect and enjoy nature.

One way you may be able to achieve patience is to hike the same trail during different seasons. Make note of how the trees look, the flowers you see, the streams that flow past — and realize changes may not happen overnight but over time.

A tortoise made of yarn spinning on top of a tea kettle. The text reads:

And remember these lyrics from this Guns N' Roses song:

Take it slow and things will be just fine, you and I'll just use a little patience.

Improved Mental Health

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The silence of nature helps my mental health by quieting my mind so that I fixate less on problems that I have no control over.

The great thing about hiking is that when you are on a trail, you get to experience the here and now. Nature inspires mindfulness as you become more aware of what is around you, leaving you in the moment.

Here are some ways to achieve mindfulness!

Forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku

Forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s to help with "tech burnout". It can help with:

  • Reducing stress and anxiety

  • Becoming calm and clear

  • Increasing creativity

  • Refreshing yourself and your goals

A woman in a forest. She sits in a crouched position and looks up towards the sky. Photo by Michal Vrba on Unsplash

How to forest bathe

Leave your technology in the car. Yes, that means your phone!

Find a spot in nature to sit. Use your senses to:

  • Breathe in the fresh air

  • Notice the flowers and trees

  • Touch the grass, a tree, or stream

  • Listen to the birds, the leaves blowing in the wind, the insects buzzing around

  • Connect to nature

A man in a yoga pose breathes deeply. The numbers 1-2-3 cycle across his body, from his abdomen to his chest.

Mindful breathing

Remember that deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth have positive benefits:

  • Releases endorphins

  • Relieves stress and muscle tension

  • Lowers blood pressure

  • Improves mood

Taking time to practice mindful breathing on your hike can increase your happiness!

Quiz

Emily wants to start hiking because her weeks are highly stressful. She doesn't have much experience with hiking. What advice would you give her? Select all that apply:

Have Your Own Goals!

A cartoon robot standing on mountain peak looking into the distance.

Your goals are your own. You don't need to make it to the summit or hike the hardest trails. Here are a few things to remember:

Set an intention for yourself before you begin your hike.

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Also, hiking has many health benefits, from physical exercise to emotional or mental relief that comes from being in nature:

  • Build stronger muscles

  • Improve your heart health

  • Boost your mood & mental health

  • Make healthy relationships

You can build your goals around these benefits.

Take Action

Two small dogs hiking down a forest trail. They have packs on their backs.

Hiking is a great hobby to do alone or with company! Decide which of the following benefits you can build your goals before your next hike: 

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