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Improve your mental and physical health
If you’re based in England, chances are you’re feeling a little out of sorts this year. What with being slap bang in the middle of our 3rd national lockdown, perhaps you’re feeling burnt out, bored or just utterly sick of it all. Well maybe it’s time for you to start planning your first ever solo hike!
Solo hiking may not be the easiest thing to do at the moment, but it’s the perfect time to start building up your stamina and fitness level to crush those solo hikes when we’re finally allowed our freedom again.
Looking after our mental and physical wellbeing has never been more crucial or necessary than now. As a nation, we’re suffering. Our mental and physical health is declining. Where do you go when you feel stressed, burnt out, overwhelmed? You go outside in search of nature, peace and calm. You seek out the green because that is what we all crave, deep down.
Getting back to nature is important for many reasons, but why exactly is it important for us? Why do we feel so good after immersing ourselves in nature? Solo hiking may not have been on your radar until now, but you’ll soon discover why this up-and-coming activity is actually the highest form of self-care.
Urban living and its Impact on Health
“Good mental health can improve people’s enjoyment, coping skills, and relationships, educational achievement, employment, housing and economic potential, help reduce physical health problems, ease healthcare and social care costs, build social capital, and decrease suicides.” – Centre for Urban Design & Mental Health
Mental health problems are on the rise. Is it any wonder that during lockdown, with limited time outside, people have become more irritable and unhappier? Mental health problems are higher in cities, with an almost 40% higher risk of depression, over 20% of people feeling more anxious and double the risk of schizophrenia. Loneliness, isolation and stress are also higher in urbanised areas, lockdown or no lockdown.
Alongside this, physical health also suffers. In the bigger cities, such as London, public transport is comprehensive and leaves little space or motivation to get moving. People want to get in and out via the quickest route possible. Sure there are gyms, but there’s nothing like getting out and about to really build your functional fitness.
Speaking from my personal experience of living in London, away from my countryside home, I found the sheer number of people and change of pace in life overwhelming. I really struggled to cope in all my years away from wide open spaces and had to escape regularly to the countryside. It felt like failure that I couldn’t cope with living alone, and eventually I decided I’d had enough putting up with all the misery and loneliness I felt.
With many people out of employment now due to the coronavirus, mental health issues, as well as physical health issues, are likely to be on the rise in the coming months and years.
Fear not though, because wherever you live, the good news is that there are green spaces for you to discover and make the most of.
Nature is Good – Science Says So
Scientists are a useful lot to have around. Where there is a question, there will likely be a team of professionals beavering away to answer it. What is the best way to be healthy? How do I get fit? How do people live longer?
Well a lot of research that has been done into health, wellness and the effects nature has on the human body. Think about it this way: we came from nature. We evolved and are biologically programmed to react positively when we’re outside and surrounded by open spaces. Urban living, while it’s brought us many benefits, supresses our natural instinct for freedom and nature. Is it any wonder that landscaped parks are built into urban environments?
It is scientifically proven that being surrounded by nature boosts your mood. I don’t need to quote findings and statistics to you though. The evidence can be experienced on a first-hand basis after you immerse yourself in nature, perhaps on a hike or just sitting by a stream.
Modern life is busier than ever, with our attention spans forever locked onto competing demands. Getting outside, away from the hustle and bustle allows our minds to quieten and focus on the task at hand. There is such beauty to be found outdoors, that it’s difficult to keep hold of negative thoughts and feelings. Time outdoors equates to a sense of calmness and quietness of mind. Plus getting your body moving is good for your physical health too. Not only do you burn calories, (however fast or slow you go) you reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension.
Going on a solo walk really allows you to be present in the moment, connecting with the experience and disconnecting from modern life. Put your phone on silent and head outside. The longer you are outside, the longer the effects and memories will last. Being outside is not a luxury, it is a necessity: the ultimate self-care activity.
12 Reasons Why Solo Hiking is Good For Your Health
Not yet convinced to put down your device and head outdoors? Here are 12 reasons why you should think again and get outside:
- Physical full body work out – You build strength in a gentle way, whilst burning your fat stores, which is what you want. Not only will you feel good, you’ll look good too! Win, win!
- Lower stress levels, improve your mood, and enhance your mental wellbeing – increasing your ability and capacity to cope
- Reduce your risk for heart disease
- Lower your blood pressure
- Lower your cholesterol levels
- Have improved control over a healthy weight
- Lower your body fat
- Improve your bone density
- Decrease the effects of osteoarthritis
- Increase your flexibility and coordination
- Improve your mental health & ability to cope
- Boost your serotonin – leaving you feeling happier, more fulfilled and accomplished, and more able to tackle your next task
As you can see, making solo hiking part of your lifestyle leads to long-term health benefits, for both your body and mind.
The Science Behind the Facts – What are the Blue Zones?
Now here is where it gets really interesting. The Blue Zones are a group of communities around the world where people live longer than average. Not only do they live longer, but the population is also significantly healthier than other areas. These areas are:
- Ikaria in Greece
- Loma Linda in California
- Sardinia in Italy
- Okinawa in Japan
- Nicoya in Costa Rica
People in these nations, these ‘blue zones’, don’t try to outlive others. It simply happens due to the way they live their lives.
The original study by Dan Buettner has grown to become a community-focused project to help American communities to live longer, healthier lives. The focus is on creating a healthier environment that ultimately leads to a raft of positive outcomes. These include: the reduction of healthcare claims and cost for the community; increased workforce productivity; and a positive change in the culture of well-being in a community.
The Blue Zones Project®
The focuses of the Blue Zones Project include:
- Building exercise into daily life, with an emphasis on natural movement as opposed to high-impact activities
- An emphasis on healthy, whole plant foods and changing ideas around nutrition – the blue zone communities mainly eat a 95% plant based diet
- Fasting and using the 80% rule – finishing eating when you feel 80% full as opposed to 100% full
- Consuming alcohol in moderation
- Getting enough sleep – as opposed to societies where burnout and working hard all hours of the day and night is seen as positive
- Having a healthy social network
- Integrated communities – where young and old live side by side
- Having a life purpose
- Being religious or spiritual – which may help people to live lives of purpose
Stress levels are scientifically proven to decrease while spending time in natural spaces outdoors, which ultimately leads to a longer, healthier life.
Changing our attitudes about healthy living – moderation as opposed to the hard and fast approach – is crucial to achieving lasting health. Consistency is key, not how hard or how long you workout for, as you are likely putting excess strain on your body.
Backed by research of the original blue zones—rare longevity hotspots where people thrive into their 100s—we help communities through a well-being transformation: https://www.bluezones.com/blue-zones-activate/
For more info on the original study, have a gander here.
Healthy Living Case Study: Japan
Let’s have a quick look at one of these places. Research states that the Japanese in general live the longest out of anybody on earth, reaching an average age of 83. It will come as no surprise to you then, that this nation of long-lived people champion nature and outdoor spaces in their culture.
Japanese zen gardens take advantage of nature and patterns to reduce stress and initiate calmness. Forest bathing, a popular pastime, is proven by science to lower blood pressure. These are acceptable social or solo activities built into life there.
Forest bathing in particular focuses on mindful and natural movement, as opposed to going for a run. Solo hiking allows you to cultivate that same practice of mindfulness, whilst moving your body in a healthy, natural way. You build strength and stamina that will positively affect other areas of your life, such as your mood and general sense of wellbeing.
Through invoking a sense of calm and peace, you are more likely to feel motivated to eat a healthier diet, following the Japanese diet of whole, unprocessed foods.
After his 2 years spent living within these communities, Dan Buettner actually wrote a recipe book to help people eat their way to a healthier lifestyle.
Solo Hike to Stay Healthy for Longer
Access to nature allows for a more positive, stronger state of mind, with the strength and capacity to bounce back from negative thoughts and feelings. Taking care of your mental health is crucial to providing for your physical health. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as accommodating solo hiking into your life, you increase your chances of happiness, create a stronger more resilient mind and your improve your physical wellbeing.
While solo hiking may not sound like a particularly sociable activity, don’t be swayed by first impressions. By lowering your stress levels and allowing yourself space to organise your mind and life, you allow yourself to become happier and more approachable. Hiking solo can actually improve your social life! This therefore leads to less future health problems and a higher chance of living longer.
Plus, I’m building a community for like-minded fellow solo hikers, so stick around! When I have a chance to, I will be starting to lead walks, to help you learn and build upon your solo hiking skills.
If science proves that getting out in nature helps us live longer, then who are we to argue? Grab your boots and let’s get going!
I can’t wait to get to know you all, so leave a comment below and let me know what you like most about hiking solo, or what you are most excited about trying.
Until next time my sole sisters,
Jenni