Hike in nature! This is something many people started during the pandemic. But why? What’s so special about nature?
If you are wondering why or just thinking about it, this article will help you get started.
Once you start, you’ll discover what’s important in your life.
In this article, I’ll explain 5 reasons why you should hike in nature.
Why hike in nature?
Reason 1: Great Exercise
One of the obvious benefits of nature hiking is getting a great workout. How many of us feel out of shape, especially during the pandemic?
In nature, you are doing a constant workout: climbing, stretching, jumping, balancing, and much more. But the best part is that you don’t feel like you’re doing an ‘I have to’ exercise. Well, except when you face a steep hill like the picture above.
Imagine how strong your body will become if you regularly hike in nature!
Reason 2: Healthy Mind
As a Japanese person, I have experienced forest bathing /shinrin you, and I understand the benefits of it.
When we are in nature, we engage all of our 5 senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. This means we can cut out all the noise and distractions from our busy life.
I particularly like the sound of water. Whether it’s a waterfall, creek, or rain, it relaxes my body and nurtures my mind.
Connecting with nature keeps our well-being in our minds.
Reason 3: Curiosity
What’s this? I’ve never seen (wild pink asparagus?) these plants before! But are they asparagus? Are they edible?
As you can imagine, there are so many unknown things in nature. Whenever we discover something new, we start seeking information. That process teaches you to be a curious learner. Curiosity is one of the most important life skills to have in life. This is exactly why you should hike in nature.
Hiking through nature certainly stimulates your curiosity about things like different seasons, plants, animals, and more. A childlike mind is something we can reinstall into our life.
Reason 4: Hike in Nature for a Special Experience
When we are in nature, we encounter special experiences.
For instance, while I was admiring Camas flowers, an unknown clicking sound started. Instinct told me to back off.
Now, this creature was nicely camouflaged as you can tell in the video. When I looked up, two very angry round eyes were staring at me – A Barred Owl!
Have you ever heard that sound? I’ve seen many owls in the forest, but not that close! I wonder why it was angry.
Just imagine… How fun it would be to experience something straight out of National Geographic!
Reason 5: Awareness
Seeing is believing! When you immerse yourself in nature, you see what’s happening around us.
As an example, my friend didn’t want to take the picture above. What you see from a distance seems pretty: beautiful sky, a lake, trees, etc. But when you zoom in, you notice things. Behind all the trees, there are clear cuts and newly developed residential areas.
After a hike, you also notice how refreshed/relaxed you are. With our busy lifestyle, we often forget to pay attention to ourselves.
Nature helps us slow down to notice what’s important to us.
In conclusion, these are the 5 reasons why many people hike in nature. Nature offers something special for us to support our well-being.
So, are you ready to hike in nature this weekend? Please share some stories or photos from your hike. I would LOVE to see them!
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