Dealing with anxiety is hard. But spending time outside is healing. I love hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. For me, they’re more than just a good time. They’re natural medicine for my mental health. On my worst day and on my best day, being outside is where I want to be.
In addition to improving my mental and physical well-being, being outside helps me feel more connected to the world. It helps me breathe. When negative thoughts get the best of me and my breath becomes shallow, I know it's time to take control. Hiking helps me do that. Fresh air, natural beauty, and the satisfying crunch of dirt beneath my feet all help me to center, get calm, and breathe more deeply.
When I’m hiking and I look out over a wide, green valley or to the top of a snowcapped mountain, I feel real joy and total freedom. At the same time, I feel small in the best way possible. My problems get right-sized and I feel more at peace. I am reminded of how grand our planet is, and my perception of myself as one small part of so many bigger things is restored.
But it’s not just me! A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University shows that spending time outside can boost your mood and improve your mental health. Study participants who spent time in nature reported a reduction in stress and anxiety. Study outcomes also suggest that being outside can lower the risk of depression. Doctors are getting wise and even prescribing time in nature to help their patients feel better.
Dealing with anxiety is hard. But spending time outside is healing. I love hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. For me, they’re more than just a good time. They’re natural medicine for my mental health. On my worst day and on my best day, being outside is where I want to be.
In addition to improving my mental and physical well-being, being outside helps me feel more connected to the world. It helps me breathe. When negative thoughts get the best of me and my breath becomes shallow, I know it's time to take control. Hiking helps me do that. Fresh air, natural beauty, and the satisfying crunch of dirt beneath my feet all help me to center, get calm, and breathe more deeply.
When I’m hiking and I look out over a wide, green valley or to the top of a snowcapped mountain, I feel real joy and total freedom. At the same time, I feel small in the best way possible. My problems get right-sized and I feel more at peace. I am reminded of how grand our planet is, and my perception of myself as one small part of so many bigger things is restored.
But it’s not just me! A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University shows that spending time outside can boost your mood and improve your mental health. Study participants who spent time in nature reported a reduction in stress and anxiety. Study outcomes also suggest that being outside can lower the risk of depression. Doctors are getting wise and even prescribing time in nature to help their patients feel better.
Here are five ways that hiking can improve your mood. It can
- Reduce Rumination. Hiking can help replace obsessive, stressful thoughts with more peace and calm.
- Boost Creativity. Getting away from the smart phone and computer and breathing more fresh air helps our brains approach problems in new ways.
- Reduce Stress. Exercise is known to lower cortisol levels and release mood-boosting endorphins, which lower stress in the body.
- Help You Stay Present. Hiking away from the stressors of day-to-day life is a good practice. Feel your feet on the ground and notice your breath. This moment is all there is. All is well.
- Increase Happiness. Studies show that hiking can lead to sustained feelings of contentment.
For me it’s hiking, but for you it might be running, cycling, skiing, birdwatching, or any number of other outdoor activities that soothe the soul. All of them offer benefits like the ones above.
Curious to learn more? Get outside and see for yourself!
Brandi Small’s passion for the outdoors was sparked by childhood hikes in Oregon. Now a resident of Los Angeles, she has visited all of California's national parks. Some of her most cherished moments are those spent outside with her family. Whether they’re hiking, camping, road tripping, or playing sports, Brandi has instilled in her family a love and appreciation for the great outdoors, a space she firmly believes is for everyone. She enjoys sharing her experiences through her Instagram platform @brandihikes.
Here are five ways that hiking can improve your mood. It can
- Reduce Rumination. Hiking can help replace obsessive, stressful thoughts with more peace and calm.
- Boost Creativity. Getting away from the smart phone and computer and breathing more fresh air helps our brains approach problems in new ways.
- Reduce Stress. Exercise is known to lower cortisol levels and release mood-boosting endorphins, which lower stress in the body.
- Help You Stay Present. Hiking away from the stressors of day-to-day life is a good practice. Feel your feet on the ground and notice your breath. This moment is all there is. All is well.
- Increase Happiness. Studies show that hiking can lead to sustained feelings of contentment.
For me it’s hiking, but for you it might be running, cycling, skiing, birdwatching, or any number of other outdoor activities that soothe the soul. All of them offer benefits like the ones above.
Curious to learn more? Get outside and see for yourself!
Brandi Small’s passion for the outdoors was sparked by childhood hikes in Oregon. Now a resident of Los Angeles, she has visited all of California's national parks. Some of her most cherished moments are those spent outside with her family. Whether they’re hiking, camping, road tripping, or playing sports, Brandi has instilled in her family a love and appreciation for the great outdoors, a space she firmly believes is for everyone. She enjoys sharing her experiences through her Instagram platform @brandihikes.
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