Photo by Phil Coffman on Unsplash

In every walk in nature, you receive more than you seek. – John Muir

Our innate affinity for walking and the natural world is rooted in our evolutionary history. Homo erectus and other early human species were skilled walkers who relied on bipedal movement for migration, exploration, and survival. Because of this evolutionary feature, we naturally gravitate toward walking and being outside. Hiking fulfills an essential part of our human nature by appealing to this ancestor’s inclination.

Hiking is a fantastic workout, as everyone who has ever experienced the triumph of reaching the top of a mountain knows. If this isn’t enough to convince you why we should hike, as depicted in the June Reynolds Series books, hiking is a great way to reap mental and physical benefits. It is also especially good for the brain. When promoting cognitive health, an activity combining vigorous exercise with nature is a powerful combination.

Understanding Why We Should Hike

Positive Outlook

Hiking is also an effective way to combat negative mental habits, which is a major reason why we should hike to improve our emotional health and have a better outlook on life. People who spent 90 minutes walking in natural settings showed less ruminating than those who walked in cities. This implies that spending time in nature can result in a more optimistic outlook and less attention to the bad.

Improves the Sense of Direction

The hippocampus, a crucial area for memory, learning, and navigation, can be compared to your internal GPS. Exercising in a cognitively taxing setting may be even more beneficial for the hippocampus than exercise alone.

Exercise on a treadmill or elliptical does not present a cognitive challenge since you’re just using automatic movements that you’d use every day. Going hiking in places like the desert also helps improve the sense of direction while basking in the beauties deserts can give. Following many debunked myths about the desert, it is not just a boring-looking place with lots of sand.

Boost your mood

At some point in their lives, at least 10% of individuals will suffer from a mood disorder. A walk in the park is what you need when you are constantly grumpy, and everything or everyone seems bothersome for some reason. You can feel calm, content, and even happier after spending at least 90 minutes walking outside as the breeze and fresh air caress your face, which is why we should hike. Furthermore, according to a recent study, hiking can lessen rumination and neuronal activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex.

Photo by Luke Porter on Unsplash

Put your mind in a state of meditation.

A stroll in Mother Nature’s green space can induce a contemplative state and promote relaxation, according to a study. Going on a walk can improve your awareness, meditation, and mental calmness. Taking a walk to “clear your head” will often assist if you are having trouble focusing. Additionally, studies have shown that walking can improve memory and attention by at least 20%.

Improved quality of sleep

Are you curious why your neighbor likes walking in the evening? Or go hiking whenever they have the chance?  Who wouldn’t, if it helped them sleep better at night?  According to a recent study, increasing your daily step count is all you need to do to improve your sleep quality at night, which is a contributing reason why we should hike. As several studies indicate, exercising like walking and hiking can also help you sleep better if you have any clinical sleep issues.

Lessen Being Tried All The Time

Going for regular walks can lessen physical and emotional exhaustion. According to a study, walking for 20 minutes can help cancer patients feel less exhausted.  They reported feeling less tired and experiencing less pain after doing this walking exercise for at least three months. In another study, a group of healthy individuals who regularly walked saw a 25% increase in energy and a 65% decrease in exhaustion.

Key Takeaways

Person Hiking In A Forest l Photo by Curated Lifestyle on Unsplash

We wish to be in harmony with nature. As part of our daily routine and routine, we yearn for it.  Whether we realize it or not, we are intertwined with nature which is why we should hike.  We can frequently observe clearly what was happening before we hit the route by getting there. 

On treks and trail runs, you can solve problems quite effectively since you are clear-headed and have lungs full of clean air.  Therefore, the seemingly irrational temptation to slip on your shoes and head for the trails isn’t really irrational the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by life and have a significant decision to make or a challenge to address. Would you like to read a book featuring the beauty of hiking in the desert? Buy Desert Trails of the Desert Series by June Reynolds now!