The 4 Top Benefits of Hiking and Being Outdoors

If you love the outdoors, hiking and other activities with fresh air are ideal when

you’re looking for something to keep you active and healthy. The benefits are

numerous, and the more you learn about how it impacts your body and overall well-

being, the more it may surprise you about how expansive the advantages are. Keep

reading for the top benefits of hiking and being outdoors.

1. It improves sleep quality

Tossing and turning at night is never fun for anyone. Do you find that you can never

settle down or that it takes you hours to get to sleep? Participating in an outdoor activity

like hiking, which is categorized as an aerobic exercise, can help you to sleep more

soundly. When you expend energy, you feel more tired and are ready to fall asleep

when bedtime comes. Your ability to fall into a deep sleep will ultimately boost immune

functions and support other healthy functions of the body.

Looking for a way to maintain your fitness but sick of the gym? You’re not the only

one! Following the same fitness routine can be tough for anyone. Hiking provides a lot

of the same cardio benefits that you get from hitting the gym every single day but helps

add variety. You’ll continue to maintain the same benefits as if you were hitting the gym

hard but get to breathe fresh air while doing it. Can you think of a better way to get your

60 minutes of activity in?

One of the greatest benefits of exercise is the mental and emotional release it

provides…not just the physical. As you hike, you pump up the endorphins in your body

that help your brain and body feel good. Managing your stress comes down to

understanding what makes you happy and how to find relief. Spending time outside and

getting in tune with the outdoors is a natural way to cope with tension and stress levels.

When you hike, you reduce your risk of tension and anxiety which helps your body and

mind feel more ready than ever.

Even if exercise is already a part of your daily routine, sometimes life might get

stressful. If you live in a place where hiking is abundant, it can help you clear your mind

and process daily events to get out and get moving. Hiking is a relatively mindless

activity, but while you do it you can listen to music, a podcast, an audio book or just

absorb nature. It’s a great way to move around and decompress after a long day in the

office sitting at a desk. Clear your mind with the great outdoors!

Don’t waste anymore time—get outside!