The top 5 reasons to get your boots on and go hiking

Good 2 Grand Hiking

The top 5 reasons to get your boots on and go hiking

One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday (usually my only day off) is to get outside and go for a big hike or bush walk. Not only is it wonderful to get outside in the fresh air but it is a great way to get to know your own backyard and discover areas you didn’t know existed. It gets you moving (which you were born to do), keeps your fitness up and gets you out of the office and back to nature. And it is one of the cheapest things you can do in Sydney.

If that wasn’t enough, here are another top 5 reasons to get your hiking boots on and start a bush walk:

1. Sun exposure

Hiking exposes you to sunlight, effectively supplying your body with Vitamin D which is essential for good health and disease prevention. Vitamin D is created as your body responds to UVB rays, making sun exposure an important part of your health needs. More than this, studies have shown moderate sun exposure can:

  • Enhance mood and energy through the release of endorphins.
  • Treat skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, acne and scleroderma.
  • Synchronise important biorhythms that regulate body temperature and help reset your circadian rhythms.
  • Disinfect and heal wounds.
  • Lower blood pressure.
  • Cleanse the blood and blood vessels.
  • Increase the production of white blood cells to strengthen the immune system.
  • Cure or relieve depression.
  • Improved focus

According to researchers from the Frontiers of Ageing Neuroscience, “Walking at one’s own pace for 40 minutes three times a week can enhance the connectivity of important brain circuits, combat declines in brain function associated with ageing and increase performance on cognitive tasks”. Having tracked participants for over a year, the team discovered that the more active people were, the better their cognitive function and focus.

2. The opportunity to escape rumination

Rumination is defined by psychologist as a repetitive thought focused on negative aspects of the self. Examples of rumination include spending lots of time thinking back over embarrassing or disappointing moments, or rehashing things you’ve recently said or done.

Researchers have found that by taking yourself on a nature hike you can reduce rumination and blood flow to the subgenual prefrontal cortex. Lead author of the study, Gregory Bratman, believes this shows the importance of immersing yourself in nature, especially in a more urbanised world. Hiking essentially prevents negative, obsessive thoughts from forming that lead to anxiety and depression.

Bratman also suggests that hiking could be the key to evolutionary happiness, stating “being in a natural environment taps into an unconscious part of ourselves that is predisposed from ancient times to thrive in natural settings – a happy home we once knew, but now miss given our urban lifestyles.”

3. Boosts creative problem solving, keeps you focused and improves your memory

A study conducted by psychologists Ruth Ann Atchley and David L. Strayer found that creative problem solving can be drastically improved by disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature. The researchers found that by switching off from technology and going for four hour hikes, a person’s performance on problem-solving tasks improved by 50%.

The researchers of this study also noted that both technology and urban noise are incredibly disruptive as they constantly demand our attention and prevent us from focusing, all of which can lead to mental fatigue. A nice long hike takes the pressure off cognitive functions and soothes the mind.

For any person having a difficult time focusing or exhibiting impulsive behaviour, hiking can work far better than some prescribed medicines.

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. Therefore aerobic exercise not only improves memory loss, but helps prevent it too.

4. Social benefits

Participating in a hike with others gives you an opportunity to meet and build relationships with them. Connecting with people who share your love of the great outdoors can help you form lifelong friendships.

5. Builds muscle in your legs

Your quadriceps, the muscles at the front of the thighs, are the primary muscles used for hiking. When hiking, all portions of the quadricep muscles are engaged, allowing you to propel yourself forward during steps or strides. Hamstrings work in conjunction with your quads, allowing you to flex the knee and transfer each foot. Calves are also engaged, but will undergo changing levels of use. Hiking uphill with a heavy backpack will strengthen your calves engagement. In other words, hiking is an awesome leg workout!