The holidays have come and gone, and the new year is upon us. The transition from December’s freshly baked cookies and feelings of warmth to January’s cold offerings of kale and guilt can be shocking.
This is a time spent reflecting on goals and making resolutions. What’s on tap this year? Improve fitness? Reduce stress? Spend more time meditating or in prayer? What if I told you that all of this, and more, can be achieved simply by spending more time in nature?
That’s right. You can reconnect physically, mentally, and spiritually by merely taking a walk in the great outdoors.
First, let’s talk about fitness benefits.
And there are many. In addition to being a great cardio workout, walking outdoors builds strength in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and the muscles in your hips and lower legs. It is a weight-bearing exercise, so you’ll build bone density; you’ll even improve balance and get a terrific core workout as muscles work to stabilize your body on the uneven terrain.
As with any good cardio workout, you’ll lower the risk of heart disease, improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and help to control weight. Burn anywhere between 400 and 700 calories per hour, depending on your size and the terrain. The bonus is that this all happens with lovely views, fresh air, and the sounds and smells of nature. It has been proven that people who exercise outdoors are more likely to stick with it.
Next up, mental health benefits.
While any physical activity can help to reduce stress and anxiety, there’s something about being out in nature that elevates those benefits.
First, the mood boost. “Research shows that walking outdoors has a positive impact on combating the symptoms of stress and anxiety,” says Gregory A. Miller, Ph.D., president of the American Hiking Society. “Being in nature is ingrained in our DNA, and we sometimes forget that.”
It may seem obvious that time spent in nature can soothe your mind and soul, but science is now discovering that trekking can change your brain for the better. A recent study found that spending time in nature, unplugged from technology, not only decreased negative thoughts, it also reduced mental fatigue, soothed the mind, and gave creative thinking and problem-solving a boost.
You may have noticed that I said unplugged from technology. Technology is great, but at this time in history, we are bombarded with messages designed to pull at our attention always. Go outside, hit the reset button, and give your brain a break. Ditch your device and immerse yourself in nature.
Finally, let’s touch on meditation and spirituality.
Spending time in nature, without devices and distractions, helps us become mindful, genuinely alive, and in the moment. Place one foot in front of the other, over and over and begin to notice your breath and bodily sensations as you become more aware of your soul’s intention to connect with something bigger than yourself,
Speaking of something bigger than yourself, climbing mountains, strolling through the desert, losing yourself in the forest, are all excellent reminders of how small our problems are in the grand scheme of things. Turn down the constant chattering of your inner monologue while putting physical distance between yourself and the hectic pace of everyday life as you enjoy the beauty and majesty that God has created for you.
John Muir, Sierra Club founder and “Father of our National Parks” who had a great passion for nature and adventure wrote:
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.”
You don’t have to go on an epic hike to reap all of these benefits. There’s no need to be a hero. Begin with a simple walk through a park or nature center. You don’t need much more than a decent pair of shoes, some water, and a sense of adventure.
Spending time in nature, observing silence, and engaging in prayer and meditation allows one to reconnect with nature, with yourself, and with God.
Martin Luther may have said it best.
“God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.”
What are you waiting for?
Plenty of walking trails and green spaces exist. Venture out as you progress. Resources are abundant online.
Step outside and reconnect with nature and with self in 2020.
As always, thanks for reading!
Check out the prologue from my upcoming book about my transformative year on the trails HERE.
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Keep up with the adventure with the 52 Weeks 52 Hike Journal. Grab your copy HERE.
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