Here’s a small excerpt of “Wellness in the Woods” Chapter 3, about the mental health benefits of a good hike…
Hiking is a great boost for our bodies, and our brains. Yes, in addition to plenty of physical benefits, a walk in the woods has a slew of mental health benefits too. Maybe, just maybe, that’s why the human brain with all its twisting ridges and grooves looks more than a little like a winding trail map. Think about it the next time you see either one.
How hiking improves your mental health
Hiking reduces stress and anxiety. Spending time hiking in nature has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels. A 2018 study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that participants who spent time in nature reported lower levels of anxiety and depression. Another study in that same journal discovered that people who walked in a forest for 90 minutes had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than people who walked in an urban setting. And we should all say yes to less stress.
Hiking improves mood. Want to improve your mood, boost your self-esteem and reduce feelings of depression? Hit the trail, because hiking releases endorphins and their mood-boosting effects. A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area had increased activity in the brain region associated with positive emotions. But wait there’s more. Hiking can also help you connect with nature, appreciate the beauty of your surroundings, and spark your curiosity to learn more about the world around you.
Hiking boosts creativity and imagination. Wandering the woods has long been recognized as a vital part of the creative process. It’s been said that Ludwig van Beethoven went for a five hour walk every afternoon in the woods near Vienna, Austria. Friedrich Nietsche walked up to eight hours a day and even wrote, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.” Charles Darwin, Ernest Hemingway, Aristotle, Tchaikovsky, Thoreau and so many other great thinkers knew that getting up and getting outside gets their creativity going.
To read more, take a hike on over to Amazon for Wellness in the Woods: Hiking for Health, Healing & Happiness.