Those that know me a little bit, are aware that I’ve taken up hiking more seriously ever since the Corona-pandemic hit.
And with buying a new pair of shoes, I thought I should reflect on it here. For myself, but maybe also for others.
Benefits of hiking
So before diving more into it, there are a couple of very obvious reasons why hiking is good for you:
- Better physical fitness and cardiovascular health, along with mental well-being stress reduction
- Strengthens social bonds through shared experiences
- Encourages a connection with the natural world through a sense of adventure and exploration
- Low-cost and accessible outdoor activity
- Provides opportunities for solitude and self-reflection
- Supports environmental conservation efforts
- Can be adapted to various skill levels and fitness abilities
- Allows for a break from a busy daily life
The Corona-era
To me, the Corona-pandemic was the catalyst to start hiking again. We weren’t allowed to come closer than 1.5 meters of each other outside our households, but were still allowed to do outdoor activities. As social life plummeted as well due to all the restrictions and I developed coinciding issues along with it, it was also a way to get my mind out for a mini-refresh.
The more I did it, the more I actually became to like it. Up to a point that I was actually buying water-proof hiking shoes and a jacket to match to go out even in the more challenging weather conditions. One time, on very bad day mentally, I went out in streaming rain through a local forest and caught myself smiling about it in the middle of the hike. Yes.. very much my thing and very clear benefits.
Unfortunately, not so much the thing of the misses. She really despises hiking, apart from shopping of course or visiting amusement parks😁 So the above point on strengthening bonds and shared experience.. Good thing we’re a couple for 23+ years already 😉. But at some point, I did go walk with my father-in-law, which I liked very much. He also liked it, we always seemed to have enough things to talk about. Plus we generally have a genuine, good connection, which I believe only improved by doing this.
Brainpower & Forest-bathing
As my job has quite the demand on brainpower, I also saw quite profound effects there. When I hike regularly (like once or twice every week), I am able to think more clearly and have a bigger reserve in patience. As a form of exercise, it stimulates neurogenesis (growth of new neurons) in your brain. This is called the brain-derived neurotropic factor or BDNF (yes, you can forget that immediately). It supports cognitive improvement and the reduction of depression and anxiety. Therefor, you can think of hiking as a way to positively nourish and nurture your brain.
But really, the best part for me is what they call Shinrinyoku in Japan, which roughly translates to forest-bathing. This is an actual recognized relaxation and stress management activity there, underpinned by various studies (see below).
So while your mileage from hiking may vary (it is still very personal whether you love it or hate it), the positive effects are pretty much undeniable. And a good reason to buy gear 😉
Studies & articles
Some references / studies on hiking (most of them scientific papers):
Prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure
Sport and oxidative stress in oncological patients
Hiking in the Covid-19 Era: Motivation and post-outbreak intentions (paid article)
Nature experiences reduce ruminations and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation
Memory improved by 20% by Nature walk
Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings
Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function
Social support and the perception of geographical slant
Growing obsession with mobile phones and iPads has led to 13 per cent drop in time spent with friends over last 15 years
The last one I find particularly interesting. The article is from 2017, but recent (not yet completed studies) show a sharp rise. Or: we spend less and less times interacting with people directly, but primarily use our phones as proxies.
I can also recommend using a website like Meetup | Find Local Groups, Events, and Activities Near You to see if there’s people near you wanting to hike, if you also like the social aspects of it.
Finally
For myself, this means I want to be very aware of how I spend time and make conscious decisions about it.
As my job is filled with tech already, I sometimes do need to escape. Whenever I feel that way, even a 30-minute hike already helps in feeling better. I would definitely recommend doing this, if it’s in your interest. It’s easy, low-cost and you positively impact your health directly. Take care!