Not only is it peaceful to spend time in nature, but the environments where most hiking takes place are typically filled with beauty, earth smells, chances to see a little bit of wildlife, and definitely puts each of us back in touch with something we are a part of at the core--Mother Earth.
And if you are looking for a way to take electronic gadget breaks, hiking is a great way to get away from your computer and the prolonged sitting involved with dedicated work at your screens. Research shows that prolonged sitting is associated with early death, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, neck and lower back pain, and poor circulation. Hiking gives you a reason to shut off your devices, put them away, and enjoy the delightful stimulation of the senses. The body needs movement, the eyes need to focus on things farther away than a computer screen, the ears need to hear nature sounds, the lungs need the exercise and fresh air, and we all need reminders that we are not machines. We are creatures on this planet just like all of the other creatures on this planet. Our modern devices are here to assist us, not confine us.
Most of all, hiking is a Mindfulness practice. It can bring you right into the present moment and wake up the senses. While hiking you may notice the sound of water, birds, wind in the trees, and the feel of fresh air on your skin. Walking in sunlight or rain, the benefits of hiking are the same. The body remembers where it comes from, and that it is a part of something more than four walls and telephones aps.
Hiking doesn't have to be elaborate. You don't have to make plans for a week-long, deep forest submersion. Many towns have local hikes within minutes of town. Some inner-city parks have hiking trails built right into them, and some of the best town parks have enough hiking trails and paths to make for a good hiking adventure. So don't let distance stop you. Hiking is still readily available at no, or very low cost, and seeking it out is well worth your Stress Management time.
You can find my previous May 2025 blog entry about the benefits of Forest Bathing here
"It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the backpacking fad of any particular era. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild." ~Cheryl Strayed
Thanks to Intermountain Forest Service, USDA Region 4 Photograpy for the great photo taken at Wasatch-Cache National Forest, https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/deed.en
