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Fall is a Great Time to Go Hiking!

Fall is in full swing and for many this means it’s a great time to get outside and do some hiking! Hiking is good for your mind, body, and soul. There are many great reasons to go on a hike. Let us count the ways . . .

Hiking Increases Happiness

Being in natural environments energizes us and increases feelings of positivity and well-being. Distance from everyday stresses may be part of the reason for these feelings.

And Decreases Stress and Depression

Spending time in a natural environment is also shown to decrease feelings of stress and depression. Walking in nature is one of the best stress-busters available to us. Turns out there is a good reason why when we get angry or stressed, the oft suggested remedy is to “take a breather” or “get some fresh air”.

Hiking Strengthens Us . . .

The varied terrain of hiking strengthens our bones, muscles, and connective tissues. It engages all those little stabilizing and core muscles that give us balance, coordination, and teaches our bodies proprioception (the position of your body in space and time). Using all these extra muscles requires more energy and burns more calories than walking on smooth roads.

. . . While Being Gentle

Spending time on natural surfaces reduces impact on your joints. Unless you are jumping off boulders like a Billy goat, trail surfaces like dirt, grass and sand are softer than asphalt or concrete and reduce overall impact on our bodies.

. . . And Keeps Us Mentally Healthy

There is a reason why people who are chronically depressed are treated with bright UV light therapy. Bright sunlight (especially at the beginning and middle of our day), high-density negative air ion exposure and auditory stimuli have been proven to boost our mood and quickly diffuse negative emotions.  Spending time outside can check all these boxes.

. . . And Helps Us Sleep Better

Since inadequate sleep is associated with obesity and decreased mental and physical health, getting enough sleep is important. Studies show that exposure to natural environments reduces the number of self-reported nights with lost sleep in adults. Turns out obtaining a good night’s sleep may be only a hike away.

Hiking Provides A Sense of Adventure

Adding adventure to your routine can be fun.  Finding a new trail to explore, peak to summit or hidden waterfall provides a sense of newness and keeps life from feeling stale or boring.  Simple joys found hiking foster a sense of gratitude and adventure you can take into the rest of your day.

As you can see, hiking is a great way to rejuvenate your mind body and soul. Fall’s scenery and mild temperatures make it a great time to be outside trekking through nature!

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We want you to be well and to live your best life. The content is in this blog is provided for the purposes to educate and entertain you: our very important reader. It is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical advice from a trained healthcare professional.

If you have a medical condition or are under the care of a medical provider, please always seek the advice of a qualified medical professional before undertaking a new health care regime. To that point, never disregard medical advice or delay treatment for a medical condition because of something you read on this site.

Listen to your care providers as they know you and your condition best. Thank you for reading!

The Team at BSDI