10 Good Reasons Hiking and Outdoor Activities are Important Physically and Mentally

We love autumn for the change of scenery and fabulous weather.  Fall is a great time to continue your summer outdoor sports like tennis, golf, pickleball, cycling, surfing and more.  It’s also a great time to try hiking.  Hiking and being outdoors has many unique health benefits. 

Here are 10 good reasons why hiking and outdoor activities are important physically and mentally:

1. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ⁽¹⁾, outdoor exercise can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, improve mood, boost the immune system, and increase energy levels
2. The National Institute of Health ⁽²⁾ has found that spending time outdoors may help with insomnia as cells in your eyes need light to set your circadian rhythm. This gets more important as you age because your eyes have more difficulty absorbing light.
3. The sun provides us with desperately needed Vitamin D that we are starved of by being indoors all day. Vitamin D is important for your bones, blood cells and immune system and helps your body absorb calcium and elevate serotonin levels ⁽³⁾.
4. Outdoor exercise is different from indoor exercise and this is an important variation to your regular workouts. Variations help target different muscles and increase overall fitness and function.
5. Outdoor programming keeps your routine from plateauing and becoming stale. Soon it will be winter and many of us will be back at the gym in the same confined space using rote machinery and routines.
6. Air quality is almost always better outside than indoors (Canadian wildfires notwithstanding).
7. Hiking is often free and requires only a few amenities in most cases.
8. Hiking is a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family!
9. Moving your body outside is highly functional as you navigate uneven surfaces and constantly changing pitches and inclines, unlike a treadmill that has no rocks, roots or cracks (new treadmill idea*).
10. Improved brain function by requiring macro and micro navigation.  

When was the last time you did something for the first time? Hiking in the fall offers vistas and natural scenery that is always changing. There are thousands of miles of great hiking trails all around the city and not far outside the confines of our concrete jungle. Additionally, consider commuting outdoors. Walking and cycling to work and appointments allows you to sneak in some of the benefits of being outside, as noted above, and can become a year-round habit if time-managed properly.  

We look forward to hearing your stories of outdoor exercise and adventure this fall. Ask your therapist about your specific physical needs as it pertains to hiking, including levels of difficulty, accoutrements like walking sticks, hiking boots, etc. and duration of expeditions. Always let people know that you are going out on a hike and try not to hike alone. Bring a charged cell phone, band aids, SPF and water. Check the weather and dress appropriately including layering, waterproof jacket and wool socks if needed. 

Happy trails to you,

Deanie and Marcus