Everyone has a sports-active friend who just loves to go for walks and jogs and is always convincing you to go on a hiking trip with them. Well, you should consider going on that trip. Hiking has great health benefits and it is super fun too! People usually tend to hike in hilly areas or on higher plains and sometimes maybe in the forest. People sometimes get confused between hiking and trekking, but the latter is a long journey on foot. Hiking can prove to be a great energy booster once in a while. The walks can be beneficial for your health especially if you are in your late twenties or mid-thirties. Hiking is basically like that cardio which you have been avoiding and stalling for years. Here are some health benefits that will get you hooked up on saying yes:
Relaxation Of Your Nervous System
A long peaceful walk with just pure nature all around you is sure to calm your nerves. The mood swings you suffer doing day-to-day chaos and work can all be calmed during this mini-retreat. You will notice how much your stress levels will go straight towards a zero. And a day away from work and stuff, doesn’t the thought of that only give you exciting vibes?
Get That Cardio Done
Hiking once in a while is proven to have great benefits for your heart too. It greatly reduces the risk for heart diseases in the future and is proven to lower down cholesterol levels.
The Workout You Miss Out On Every Day
In this fast-moving work life, we all tend to forget to take out time for ourselves. The continuous consumption of unhealthy foods, canned and junk foods cause severe impacts on our health. And due to time constraints workouts are hardly a part of our daily routine. Hiking manages our overall body weight and fills in the gap for all our misery.
Bones Become Strong
If you are still having doubts about whether you should have the trip? Clear them up, as who would not want ease from all the joint pains and bone pains. Hiking has a great potential to improve your bone density. Especially for those with osteoarthritis, hiking will improve your condition a lot. The reason behind all this is that weight-bearing activity.
Try To Make It A Habit
One weekend every month is something every one of us can easily manage. So get your hiking shoes on, grab a pole, and get set for your adventure! Making this a habit will surely uplift your mood and help you ease out your anxiety and stress problems.
Problems you may Face While Hiking
For a beginner like yourself, you should be ready and prepared. For starters, prepare yourself a bag pack that should have all the essentials you may need like proper clothing, hiking boots, eatables, water, navigation tools, or a phone with active GPS, a Swiss knife, and a first aid kit.
Here are some problems that you may face:
Blisters.
To avoid this situation, try to wear shoes with the most comfortable sole. They are something that is unavoidable though, but with proper shoes and softening creams they would not be much of a problem.
Sunburns
A hiking trip that starts in the morning is sure to continue when the sun is at its peak. To avoid damage to your skin, use proper sun-protecting lotions and sunscreens to save it from extensive burning.
Tick Bites
If you have planned to go on a hiking trip near forest areas, you can get a tick bite. In such a case you will need proper urgent care. Urgent care is required in cases where the situation is not a threat to your life but can get worse if not treated as soon as possible.
Ankle Sprains
Hilly areas can be tricky if you are a beginner at hiking. Go slow when you start off. There is a high adrenaline rush when you start something new but resist that urge of running and finishing off first but enjoy the whole process instead. The best of shoes will again prove to be helpful in preventing such injuries
Hiking is a great outdoor sport and it is a great way to persuade yourself around nature. With the right amount of preparations, you can easily have fun on this day out. If you are new to it, be sure to take the proper hiking gear along with you. They will surely help you combat the struggles you may face in the beginning.
