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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.
Now, I can face uphill battles by taking things one step at a time until I reach the top!
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.
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
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!
Photo by Michal Vrba on UnsplashHow 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
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:
Going on a short hike is a great way for Emily to relieve the stress of the week. By joining a hiking group, she can build healthy relationships with other hikers. She should start with short hikes to gain experience before longer trips.
Have Your Own Goals!
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.
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
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:
This Byte has been authored by
Michele Prezioso
Adjunct Professor Aspiring Instructional Designer
Master of Arts