What are the 1o benefits of hiking? From better health to increased relaxation and more, here are thousands of reasons why you should go hiking more often!
Whether you’re an experienced hiker or just starting out, these reasons are just what you need to motivate yourself to take the time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Here I have listed 10 benefits of hiking out of thousands of benefits of hiking.
Contents
10 Benefits of Hiking
The first benefit of hiking is to inspire you
Hiking can inspire you to take on new challenges in your life. If you’re tired of your regular 9-to-5 job, if you want to start a business, or if you want to follow your dreams, hiking can inspire you to break out of that routine and achieve what seems impossible. On top of that, hiking is a great way to relieve stress, which is especially helpful for people in today’s high-stress world. When life gets stressful, you don’t always have time to seek out green space outside—but a simple hour hike outdoors will have some surprising stress-relieving benefits. Finally, hiking helps improve mental health by boosting cognitive function and giving your brain a little bit more blood flow than it would otherwise get!
The second benefit of hiking is it helps you relax
After a long day at work, hiking will help your body and mind calm down. Studies have also shown that getting outdoors has a positive effect on mental health, which is why psychologists often recommend spending time in nature for people who suffer from depression. If you’re suffering from anxiety or worry, hiking can also be helpful: simply having something else to think about when enjoying nature is enough to put many people at ease. As an added bonus, research has shown that being outside can significantly improve some mental illnesses such as schizophrenia by reducing hallucinations and other symptoms related to paranoid delusions.
The third benefit of hiking is it helps you find gratitude
When you’re immersed in nature, you are more apt to notice God’s presence. Take time to appreciate what is right in front of you. What colors can you find? How much variety is there in your surroundings? Is it warm or cold, sunny or rainy? Think about how all these things came to be and then praise God for creating such a beautiful world. When we look around us with gratitude, we experience inner peace and happiness—and that’s what hiking is all about!
The fourth benefit of hiking is it helps your health
The most obvious benefit of hiking is improved physical health, but hiking also helps you live longer and avoid many common diseases. A study in Spain found that people who take time for a regular, vigorous walk—like hiking—have lower rates of death than those who don’t, regardless of their age or other lifestyle habits. Another study found that walking is actually better than cycling or running in regards to reducing your risk for coronary heart disease. Hiking leads to decreased levels of bad cholesterol and improves your blood pressure and risk factors related to diabetes. Spending time in nature also reduces stress and anxiety: Exposure to nature has been shown to decrease cortisol levels (the stress hormone) as well as produce more calming neurotransmitters like dopamine.
The fifth benefit of hiking is it reduces stress
When you are on a trail surrounded by nature, it’s impossible to feel stressed out. All of that buzzing, noisy chaos goes away and you can get your mind right and relaxed. If you are one who constantly worries about work and has trouble winding down, then hiking is just what you need. It’s a way to clear your head so that when you return home or back to work, you’ll have more energy and be more efficient at getting things done. A hike in nature will do wonders for your productivity at work; people have been getting high off nature for years.
The sixth benefit of hiking is it makes you healthier
Is hiking a strenuous sport? Not really. The only thing that can be strenuous about hiking is when you’re carrying your backpack, which is why you should always take advantage of opportunities to go on day hikes or multi-day hikes, which limits the number of supplies you need to carry with you. On a day hike, all you need are snacks and water; and for a multi-day hike, all you need are supplies for camping out overnight. The reason being physically active is good for your health is because it allows oxygen to flow more freely throughout your body. Since hiking can increase blood flow by as much as 50%, it makes us healthier overall by boosting our energy levels, reducing stress levels, and making us feel more vibrant and alive.
The seventh benefit of hiking is that hiking gives you energy
One reason for that is hiking burns calories. According to Health Status, Carrying 10 pounds on your back for two hours requires about 100 extra calories each day, and since you don’t want to consume more calories than you burn, it might be a good idea to spend some time going on hikes if you want to get fit. Another reason is that hiking is an endurance sport. This means that your body will have to increase its production of red blood cells and hemoglobin in order to supply oxygen to your muscles during long hikes up hills or mountains. In other words, hiking will make your heart healthier too!
The eighth benefit of hiking is it can help your heart
A 2012 study found that people who walked briskly for 10 minutes a day, four days a week had lower blood pressure than those who didn’t exercise. Walking is also associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes—not to mention it helps you live longer, according to research from Stanford University. In addition, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine found that walking helped reduce abdominal fat and could be an effective way to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Regularly going on hikes can help your heart stay healthy for years to come.
The ninth benefit of hiking comes from being outdoors
All those great smells! While hiking, you’ll experience nature in all its forms—sunshine, rain, snow, and wind. On a hike, your olfactory senses will get a real workout. And not only will you smell Mother Nature, but she’ll smell you too! Research has shown that exposure to natural elements like fresh air and trees lowers stress levels and blood pressure. Go ahead: Stop sniffing indoor flowers; start sniffing your surroundings while hiking instead.
The tenth and final benefit of hiking is it gives you the freedom
it gives you freedom from traffic, freedom from work, and freedom from time. It allows you to explore a part of nature without having to worry about politics business or bills. In today’s world, it’s increasingly hard to disconnect from our obligations as Americans – being out in nature reminds us that we have larger responsibilities than just our next paycheck. It’s true for any outdoor activity: when you are hiking, it is easy to forget your troubles because you are so focused on getting up that hill or tackling that section with loose rocks. But after an hour or two on the trail, when you look back at where you were and where you are now…there isn’t much difference; in fact, maybe your worries feel even smaller?
How can I Start Hiking?
You can start hiking just about anywhere, whether it’s your backyard or a faraway trail. When deciding where to hike, you have tons of options. Do you want to walk along a peaceful stream or hike up an active volcano? Are you interested in learning more about nature and wildlife, or are you seeking physical exercise and fresh air? No matter what your preferred terrain is, there’s an ideal hiking trip for you. The first step is to do some research on popular trails near your city. Once you know where to find them, all that’s left is deciding when and how long you want to go for! Bring some good hiking shoes, as well as plenty of water and snacks. That way, once you’re on the trail, all that’s left is to enjoy yourself! Read our blog Hiking for beginners for detailed information about how to get started with hiking.
So,
All in all, hiking can do wonders for your mental and physical health. By putting one foot in front of another on a trail, you’re creating memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to being a great exercise, hiking can help relieve stress and make it easier to sleep at night. It’s also more affordable than therapy—and you don’t have to leave your home state to get started! As with any sport or activity, it’s important to consult a physician before taking up hiking if you have an existing condition or injury. While not every hike is going to be easygoing and relaxed, hikers agree that every destination is worth seeing.
Conclusion
I would like to thank all my readers who made it through our post 10 benefits of Hiking and I really hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions or interests about Hiking, Trekking, and Backpacking, feel free to write in our forum. We will help you with the right information as soon as possible. A couple of tips for hiking from my side as a professional high-altitude trekker.; Start out slow. Measure your throat before swallowing the bone. Listen to your body and give yourself time to get used to hiking every day, then build from there.
