The Amazing Power of a Good Hike

Stressed? Exhausted? Depressed? Here’s a surefire way to clear your head and improve your health.

5 min readNov 25, 2020

When anxiety sends my heart climbing into my throat, when motivation evaporates, when life makes no sense, I have a proven pick-me-up. I head to the nearest trail for a quick hike or, when time allows, drive to the mountains for a good, long trek. Without fail, the exercise, fresh air, and curative effects of nature itself combine to boost my mental mood and invigorate my body.

It’s not just me. There’s serious science to all this, and the positive effects build over time with repeated outings. Importantly, you’re never too old to begin accruing the physical and mental health benefits.

A mountain of research proves that simply walking at a brisk pace is a great way to improve well-being, lowering the risk of everything from depression to heart problems and upping the odds of a longer, healthier life. Hiking offers the added benefit of some uneven terrain that strengthens numerous small muscles in your legs and core that improve balance while forcing your mind to focus on each step rather than cogitating on life’s stressors.

The Case for Walking

Small steps yield big benefits

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If an incline gets you huffing and puffing, all the better. Specifically, hiking has been shown to lower blood pressure, bolster the immune system, lower stress, increase attention levels, and support well-being more broadly. Science also finds that just being in nature — whether or not you hike — can boost your mood and reduce your odds of dying prematurely. The combo of hiking in nature can boost creativity and problem-solving abilities, too.

Nature Can Help Get Us Through This Mental Health Crisis

If you can’t actually go outside, technology can help

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But isn’t hiking hard? That’s up to you. Perhaps there’s a nearby city park with flat, winding paths or maybe a popular trailhead that starts out modestly, where you can simply turn around if the hike gets too challenging.

I’m fortunate to have a trail near my home in Arizona that gets me into nature quickly. I cherish it. I mix short hikes with even shorter walks around the neighborhood on other days and some mountain biking, too. But my mind struggles to let go of the fact that work and the news and the rest of life are just, well, a short hike away. That compels me to explore farther afield so that even if there’s something that needs doing, I can’t do it.

Here’s where I elected to have lunch on Election Day 2020. Photo courtesy of the author.

You may not live near a spot like this, but don’t let that stop you from getting out — you never know what you’ll find on a trail until you explore. No major trails nearby? Find some nature in a local park, walk to the river, or ride the subway to the beach on a winter day and hike in the sand.

Not in shape? Start modestly. Take a small step, as it were, and see where things go. Science promises you’ll feel better.

The Amazing Power of a Good Hike

Stressed? Exhausted? Depressed? Here’s a surefire way to clear your head and improve your health.

The Case for Walking

Small steps yield big benefits

elemental.medium.com

Nature Can Help Get Us Through This Mental Health Crisis

If you can’t actually go outside, technology can help

elemental.medium.com

Written by Tarik