Hiking In Nature Can Stop Negative, Obsessive Thoughts
Aside from the almost instant feeling of
calm and contentment that accompanies time outdoors, hiking in nature
can reduce rumination. Many of us often find ourselves consumed
by negative thoughts, which takes us out of the enjoyment of the moment
at best and leads us down a path to depression and anxiety at worst. But
a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that spending time in nature decreases these obsessive, negative thoughts by a significant margin.
To conduct this study, researchers
compared the reported rumination of participants who hiked through
either an urban or a natural environment. They found those who walked
for 90 minutes in a natural environment reported lower levels of
rumination and they also had reduced neural activity in the subgenual
prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain related to mental illness. Those
who walked through the urban environment, however, did not report
decreased rumination.
The researchers noted that increased
urbanization closely correlates with increased instances of depression
and other mental illness. Taking the time to regularly remove ourselves
from urban settings and spend more time in nature can greatly benefit
our psychological (and physical) well-being.
Hiking While Disconnected From Technology Boosts Creative Problem Solving
A study
conducted by psychologists Ruth Ann Atchley and David L. Strayer found
that creative problem solving can be drastically improved by both
disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature. Participants
in this study went backpacking through nature for about 4 days, during
which time they were not allowed to use any technology whatsoever. They
were asked to perform tasks which required creative thinking and complex
problem solving, and researchers found that performance on problem
solving tasks improved by 50% for those who took part in this tech-free
hiking excursion.
The researchers of this study noted that
both technology and urban noise are incredibly disruptive,
constantly demanding our attention and preventing us from focusing, all
of which can be taxing to our cognitive functions. A nice long hike,
sans technology, can reduce mental fatigue, soothe the mind, and boost
creative thinking.
Hiking Outdoors Can Improve ADHD In Children
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) is becoming more and more common among children. Children who
have ADHD have a difficult time with impulse control and staying
focused, they get distracted easily, and exhibit excessive
hyperactivity.
While raising children who have ADHD can
be difficult for parents, the usual solution — opting for prescription
medication — may be doing more harm than good, particularly when natural
solutions can work just as well. A study
conducted by Frances E Kup, PhD, and Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD, found
that exposing children with ADHD to “green outdoor activities” reduces
symptoms significantly. The results of this study suggest nature
exposure can benefit anyone who has a difficult time paying attention
and/or exhibits impulsive behavior.
Hiking In Nature Is Great Exercise And Therefore Boosts Brainpower
We already know that exercising is
fantastic for our overall well-being. Hiking is an excellent way to burn
between 400 – 700 calories per hour, depending on your size and the
hike difficulty, and it is easier on the joints than other activities
like running. It has also been proven that people who exercise outside
are more likely to keep at it and stick to their programs, making hiking
an excellent choice for those wishing to become more active on a
regular basis.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia found
that aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume — the part of the
brain associated with spatial and episodic memory — in women over the
age of 70. Such exercise not only improves memory loss, but helps
prevent it as well. Researchers also found that it can also reduce
stress and anxiety, boost self esteem, and release endorphins. Many
people take medication to solve each and every one of these issues,
but the solution to these ills may be a lot simpler than you think!
How Can You Begin To Start Hiking?
Luckily, hiking is one of the easiest
and least expensive sports to get involved in, and it can have great
benefits for the whole family, including grandma! Start out small and
test your abilities. Do what works for you — if that means just walking
through trails in a park, that’s fine. Any exercise outdoors is better
than none. You can easily find maps of trails around your home online,
and there are plenty of smartphone apps to
map them out, too. I recommend turning off your signal and your phone
while hiking though, so you can reap the most benefits of the hike
(though it may be wise to at least carry it with you in case of
emergency).
Make sure you have some good sturdy
hiking shoes, a hat, and a water bottle, and be sure to layer your
clothing so you can take things on or off easily as you warm up and cool
down. You may want to consider using trekking poles as well, which can
increase your speed and take some of the pressure off your knees. Now,
can you just do one thing for me?
Go take a hike!
Much Love
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