Hitting the trails can help improve your sleep, boost your mood or even reduce the risk of contracting heart disease. While everyone wishes to live a healthy life, very few individuals are ready to do the necessary work. Whether the flowers bloom during spring or the leaves change in fall, going outside for a hike is one of the best things to do.
Apart from being a good way of exercising, hiking through nature allows one to enjoy other health benefits, such as reducing anxiety and depression and controlling blood pressure. Therefore, lace up your hiking boots, grab some sunscreen and a bottle of water and get going.
While you can hike for a day or a few hours, you can also hike for several days to explore and have a good time with family or friends. Nothing beats having quality time with your loved ones. There are various destinations you can camp in the world while enjoying nature’s panoramic views. Are you planning to go camping as a trio? ADDNATURE provides various camping tents, such as 3 person tents which are comfortable and spacious enough for all. Check out our website for more information on the best camping tents.
Important Hiking Tips
Whether you are hiking as a nature aficionado or a newbie, it is significant that you prepare before the activity. Here are some tips to help you.
Stay Hydrated
Have you packed your water bottle for the hiking activity? Drinking a lot of water is important to allow you to stay hydrated. This is because sweating can lead to dehydration, even when it is cold. Additionally, you lose a lot of water when trying to warm the air you take in when you breathe.
Protect Your Feet
Hiking can be tiresome and lead to a lot of sweating on the feet. Therefore, it is best to wear comfortable and well-fitting shoes. Also, remember to select shoes that guarantee your feet stay dry during the entire activity. This will be highly influenced by the materials of your shoes and if they are breathable.
Wearing the right socks can also help to keep your feet dry by absorbing moisture when your feet sweat. But, choose a material that will remain warm even after absorbing moisture, such as wool.
Dress in Layers
Usually, you can get overheated when your heart rate increases. Dressing in layers is crucial to allow you to remove the clothes easily. If you are in cold environments, dressing in layers will help trap heat produced by the body and protect you from cold.
Carry Extra Power
This is especially important if you know you will spend a lot of time hiking and away from access to power. You can carry a power bank, an extra battery, or a portable power station so that if your cell phone goes off, you will have the power to charge it. Imagine missing a track in the middle of nowhere, and your phone goes off. Wouldn’t that be a nightmare?
Walk in Groups
If you are hiking for a short distance and in a place where you are familiar with the environment, it might not be necessary to hike in groups. However, ensure you have company if you are exploring a new place, and the trail is long. This way, you can get help in case of any threats or illnesses along the way. Also, hiking as a group will make the moment more enjoyable and less tiresome.
Benefits of Hiking
Helps with Balance
Usually, hiking will include walking in different environments with different terrains. Rocky areas, hills, dusty and muddy places. Navigating such places will allow your body to adjust to those balance changes naturally. This way, your body develops strength which plays a significant role in balance.
While you can exercise in various ways, hiking is among the best forms of exercise. Regardless of the type of trail you hike, your entire body will be involved in a workout session. Hiking will allow you to build stronger bones and muscles and improve your heart’s health. Also, the risk of contracting certain respiratory illnesses will be minimal. Do not stay indoors too much. Go for a hike, even if it means just strolling around the nearest national park.
Helps with Mental Health
Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Have you tried moving outside for a hike? Engaging with nature can help boost your mood, thus improving your mental health. Spending quality time outdoors presents a great opportunity to calm anxiety, manage depression and reduce stress. Being outdoors will also improve your sensory perception and open your senses to the environment.
Improves Sleep
Are you struggling to sleep? Did you know that going outside can help you get better sleep? Exposure to vitamin D from the sun can help manage your sleep-wake cycle. Hiking will elevate your body temperature so that it can lure you into a deep sleep when your internal temperature goes back down afterward.
Consequently, one of the reasons why you might be having disturbed sleeping patterns is stress, anxiety, or depression. Hiking helps manage these mental issues helping your mind relax.
