At risk of sounding like your mega-crunchy, tree-hugging, birkenstock-wearing friend, you should really go for a hike every now and then. Hiking is one of my favorite past-times. Not only is it a nice excuse for physical exercise, but its an amazing way to give your mind a break. Whenever I'm feeling stressed out or overwhelmed the easiest cure is going for a hike and disconnecting with my cell phone, homework, and the rest of reality.
Nothing makes me feel more at peace than connecting to the environment around me. I prefer dragging a friend along with me, and if your accident-prone you might consider this too. Arguably, its not that safe to run around a hiking trail alone without risking getting lost or hurting yourself. Not only does bringing a friend give insurance for a safer experience, but it allows for you to share the transedental moment with someone else.
When you completely immerse yourself in the outdoors, absent from technology, you experience so much mental clarity. I'd equate it to the mindfullness you practice in meditation. When hiking, your focus is on the trail ahead of you; you focus on finding the markers for your trail, while also accounting for the changing terrain below you. You find yourself completely in sync and connected to the environment-- one with nature.
My thinking is much deeper and clearer while hiking. Experiencing this clarity with someone else is so useful in communication. Everything seems easy when surrounded by nature; life is simple, you don't stress about money and anxieties. Being outside helps to remind you of the relationship humans have to nature and the planet. When deep in nature, issues seem so mundane and simple. This clarity allows for so much positivity and creativity. I do some of my best thinking and brainstorming when I'm hiking with my friends.
Fresh air is the cure for most of my mental blocks, while also being the surest way to maintain my sanity. Life is hard and stressful, it can feel really overwhelming at times. At times like these, I find it important to remind myself of just how beautiful life really is. Nature helps me do this, I remember how I'm just one of 7 billion humans walking around trying to figure out what the purpose of life is. This irrelevance to the world is liberating and makes me feel humbled.
Humans have been meandering about in nature for centuries. We've made tremendous advancements and come a long way since our days of hunting and gathering. That doesn't mean that our exploration of nature should be stopped. I believe that the hunger to immerse yourself in nature will forever be a human pursuit. Nature helps remind us how insignificant our troubles are in the workings of the planet as a whole. Get outside, breathe some fresh air, and give your mind a well deserved break from reality.
