Hiking can be great medicine for those suffering from anxiety, stress and even depression.
What is hiking?
Hiking is a form of outdoor activity involving walking outdoors on trails. Tracks made by animals and people are often called “trails”. However, many trails are not made by animals or people. Paths and roads through forests, up mountainsides, across deserts, over streams and rivers are also considered hiking trails. The activity of hiking became popular in the UK in the 1800’s when it was used as a way for families to travel and see nature without having to pay for expensive trips to the country (or their own carriage). What is hiking today has changed from what it was back then; it has become more widely accepted as an enjoyable pastime for all ages – not just for families with children.
The main purpose that most people hike is simply to get outside and enjoy nature: whether it be in a local forest or national park or anywhere else in the world where you can get your boots dirty! While some may start out with a particular goal in mind (like summiting a mountain), most hikers take pleasure in exploring new places on foot while spending time outside in beautiful natural surroundings.
Why does hiking help mental health?
It may seem like a strange notion at first – exercising outdoors whilst being surrounded by nature – but there are clear reasons why this could be helpful to those who suffer from chronic mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, depression & ADHD.
Hiking allows those suffering from chronic mental health issues to:
Spending time in nature can help increase your ability to focus, according to a study published by the journal Nature Neuroscience.
While some people choose to meditate to reduce stress and promote mental wellness, there is a more direct way to achieve these goals: spending time in nature. A study published by Nature Neuroscience revealed that participants who were shown images of nature scenes rather than cityscapes or other urban scenes before taking a test had significantly higher scores.
The participants’ brain activity was also monitored during the experiment; it was found that those who saw nature scenes before the test displayed higher levels of brain activity than their urban-scene counterparts. This kind of increased activity is indicative of increased focus, which can help you access your problem-solving skills and creativity when completing a task. While this doesn’t mean that you have to drop everything and go camping, it’s nice to have scientific backing for what we already know: spending time in nature makes us feel good!
Evidence shows that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who live near parks and green spaces have milder symptoms as adults.
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Spending time in nature can also give you a sense of awe, which is linked to increased well-being and improved health.
You don’t have to be a mountain climber, hiker, or camper to take part in experiences that can make you feel awe. You can experience it during your morning commute, walking down the street, or even just taking a moment to look around and notice how beautiful the world is. Feeling awe inspires an intense state of wonder and interest that’s often associated with an increase in well-being.
Awe has been described as a feeling of reverence or wonder. It’s closely related to surprise, but unlike surprise, which is created by unpredictability (i.e., getting hit by a bus on your way to work), awe is more closely linked with expectations being met or exceeded (i.e., watching a sunset). Awe has also been described as a feeling of admiration, amazement, or reverence. Imagine seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time: Your jaw drops in amazement and you have feelings of reverence and respect for this natural beauty; you might even feel small because you are in such close proximity to something so big and powerful.
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Studies show that being in nature helps people feel more attentive and less distracted.
New research has found that spending time in nature can improve our attention and focus, and even reduce distractions. Although the findings are not surprising to many, they have finally given official weight to a trend that many have experienced as they opened their eyes to the benefits of being outdoors.
There are many ways you can reap the rewards of this trend. One way is by taking a walk outside when your mind is feeling jumbled or full of distractions. It’s also important to consider the role your environment plays in influencing your mood—it’s been shown that we’re more attentive and creative when there are green elements around us!
We love being outdoors because it improves our mental health, but it’s also nice to remember how beautiful nature is as well!
Nature stimulates all of your senses.
Nature can be so intense that it’s almost overwhelming. How can we possibly take in all of the beauty and wonder that surrounds us?
What if you were leaving a movie theater, only to find yourself directly in the midst of nature? It’s true—nature is so powerful that it can even leave an impact on people who aren’t actively seeking it out. So how are you supposed to enjoy all that nature has to offer when you live in a place where there isn’t much of it?
In order to get more of what nature has to offer, here are ten ways that you can put your senses into overdrive.
According to a recent study by the University of British Columbia, people who helped take care of trees reported experiencing less depression and anxiety than those who didn’t help care for trees.
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Spending time in nature can reduce blood pressure, which is good for both the mind and body.
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Getting outside gives you a chance to exercise, which also can help reduce stress and improve your mental health.
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Nature has been shown to increase feelings of vitality, happiness and general well-being, which are all important parts of staying mentally healthy.
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Hiking is great, but any time outdoors is good for your mental health!
Oops! Click Regenerate Content below to try generating this section again.10 Ways That Nature Can Improve Your Mental Health and Well Being
It seems like a no-brainer that spending time outside is good for your mind and body, but science is just now catching up to the anecdotal evidence. The studies are clear: spending time in nature can help people improve their mental wellbeing, even if they’re struggling with a mental illness like depression or anxiety.
What is it about the outdoors that makes us feel so good? Well, for one thing, it’s not about the money we spend on outdoor gear and equipment—you don’t need to buy anything fancy or expensive to reap the benefits of being outdoors. Meanwhile, many of our daily activities contribute to feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety—whether we’re stuck in traffic on our daily commute or scrolling through social media at home. Nature provides a break from these stresses and distractions. Aside from getting some fresh air, spending time outside has been shown to help people feel more relaxed, less anxious, and happier overall after just 20 minutes spent in nature.
Some studies have even shown that spending time near trees specifically can help reduce harmful stress hormones in our bodies. And even if you live in an urban area without easy access to nature? A 2016 study found that simply looking at pictures of trees
Are you feeling a little down? Do you feel like nothing is going your way? Have you been working hard and thinking about how much you’d love to take a break from the “hustle and bustle” of life?
Why don’t you go outside! Nature has a lot to offer, and it can really help improve your mental health. Here are 10 ways that going outside can help improve your wellbeing:
1. Get some sun! Sunlight is good for you, and it helps increase serotonin levels which is the happy chemical in your brain.
2. Take in the scenery: You’ll be surprised by how different the view is when you’re out of your house or office. Take some time to appreciate the world around you.
3. Walk around: Studies have shown that walking 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by 30%. If that’s not motivation enough, take some time to walk outside and get some fresh air!
4. Explore new places: You’ll find all sorts of things that are new to you when you explore nature! Go on an adventure and see what kind of wonders await for yourself!
5. Listen to nature: Did you know that there are lots of animals living all around us?
1. Get Outside and Go for a Walk: A brisk walk in the park, even for just 15 minutes, can improve your mood, lower stress levels, and help you focus.2. Take a Deep Breath of Fresh Air: If you’re stuck inside all day, whether at home or at the office, take a few minutes to get fresh air. Just opening a window and breathing in fresh air can help you feel more relaxed.3. Exercise Outdoors: Try going on a hike, running along the beach, or biking through the woods. Exercising outdoors is shown to increase your energy levels and decrease depression and anxiety symptoms.4. Take Advantage of Natural Light: Sunlight is essential for helping your body produce Vitamin D, which helps regulate your moods and sleep cycles. Plus, it’s been shown to boost serotonin levels in your brain.5. Spend Time with Loved Ones: Having friends or family members who love you is one of the most important things for mental health and wellbeing! Plan a picnic at the park, go for a walk together around the neighborhood, or play some outdoor games like Frisbee or lawn bowling.6. Give Back by Volunteering: Volunteering in nature has many mental health benefits! Research shows that volunteering
Have you ever felt so frustrated and overwhelmed that you just wanted to scream? How about so sad that you couldn’t stop crying? Or so nervous that you felt like you could throw up?
Maybe you’ve had all of these feelings at once. Maybe you’ve even been lying in bed, the tears spilling out of your eyes, when suddenly your stomach starts hurting and the sickness makes you feel like it’s coming out of both ends.
We’ve been there too. And when we’re feeling that way, we want to curl up in a ball and never come out again. But what if we told you that there’s a way to combat these feelings without having to take any medication or even leave your house?
Well, it turns out there is! All you have to do is look out a window—or, even better, open the door and step outside. We’re not joking around here, guys: studies show that being outside can improve your mental health by lessening your anxiety and stress levels while increasing your happiness and memory retention—all while literally costing you nothing but a few minutes of time.
And just think about it: when was the last time you saw someone crying or throwing up in the middle of a meadow? There’s something about
If you follow us on any of our social media channels, you know that we LOVE the outdoors.
But it’s not just because we like being outside and having fun. (Though we do, obviously.)
Being outside is actually really good for your mental health, and that’s one of the reasons we’re so enthusiastic about making it accessible to everyone.
The research on getting outside is really compelling: studies have shown that spending two or three hours a week in the great outdoors can improve your mental wellbeing.
What’s more, it only takes 20 minutes to see these benefits!
How do you do it? We’ve got some ideas. Here are some of our favorite ways to get out and enjoy the sunshine while doing something that makes us feel great.
1. It can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
2. You’re more likely to exercise regularly.
3. You’ll be exposed to natural light and fresh air, making you feel more energized and less sluggish.
4. Nature can boost your self-esteem, giving you a sense of accomplishment after completing a challenging hike or walk through the park.
5. Being in nature can help you feel more connected with the world around you, which may lead to an overall feeling of happiness and satisfaction with life itself!
6. Studies show that people who spend time outdoors are happier than those who don’t get out as much, which may improve their moods as well as their relationships with others!
7. Spending time in nature has been shown to increase creativity and problem solving skills by up to 50%! This may be because it stimulates both sides of the brain simultaneously—making us better at thinking creatively while also being able to analyze information logically when necessary! The list goes on…
1. Nature can make you happier
2. Nature boosts your immune system
3. Nature improves your sleep
4. Nature can help you live longer
5. Nature reduces stress and anxiety
6. Nature makes you more creative
7. Nature helps you recover from surgery faster
8. Nature can decrease the symptoms of ADHD in children and adults
9. Nature helps fight depression and mood disorders
10. Nature is good for your brain