In order to preserve the strength and stability of your body it is necessary to get up and move around. It appears though that this particular activity not only serves in the enhancing of the physical aspect of the body but for the mind as well. The reason why hiking and fresh air improve our mood is still not known by scientists because the brain's chemistry is not yet fully understood. But they are sure that it is safer to walk in the forest or in the park than on the noisy highway. Here's what else you should focus on so that your walks are not only for the body but also for the spirit.

Research Data

People who take regular exercise can boast better mental health. This fact was confirmed in 2011 by Norwegian researchers. They selected 4,500 individuals between the ages of 19 and 91 years and divided them into two groups. They obliged members of one group to do regular exercises whereas they did not allow another group to exercise at all. Thus, even minimal physical activity had a positive effect on the mental health of individuals of all age groups.

What is "psychological well-being"? Currently, there is no scientific agreement on the question of what is meant by psychological well-being. But it is definitely not a state of absolute happiness: you can't do without negative emotions in life, and this is normal. Several criteria help to describe the state of well-being:

• You feel good about yourself both alone and in relationships;
• You can handle ups and downs adequately. That is, you can both cope with difficulties and make the most of opportunities;
• You feel connected to society and do not feel isolated;
• It is up to you how you are going to live your life;
• You have a purpose;
• You feel valued.

Any physical activity can affect a person's emotional state. Even a 15-minute brisk walk increases mental activity and improves mood. This is according to researchers from the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Illinois.

Does It Make a Difference Where to Walk?

Neuroscientists and ecologists from Stanford University conducted a study in 2015 to determine the role of the environment in a person's state during hiking. The researchers looked into the activity of the prefrontal cortex and participants who walked in nature had a marked decrease in this activity compared to those who walked near roads.

The importance of a subconscious sense of safety during a walk cannot be overlooked either. For example, if you go to Europe for hiking, your walk will hardly be relaxing and enjoyable if your iPhone or Android smartphone has a low battery and you don't have a power bank with you. Feeling anxious will prevent you from relaxing properly. The same goes for my mobile communication: if you have not taken care in advance to purchase a regular or eSIM that will allow you to make calls comfortably, then the calmness and benefits of hiking, in this case, can be forgotten...

The Yesim platform will help solve this problem, as they provide anyone with a travel SIM that has functionality such as a virtual number and a built-in VPN. This prepaid Data SIM is easy to connect. Just install the application from the App Store or Play Market and you are done - your virtual SIM is ready to use. This simple action will allow you to stay safe during travel and enjoy hiking with quality eSIM Service, feeling calm and peaceful.

What Mental Health Benefits of Hiking

Mood Improvement

German scientists confirmed this. They had people of a range of ages report on their moods for 10 weeks. But for one group, they asked for submissions after short, minor activities - such as taking a walk indoors or outdoors or in the garden. Others were instructed to keep a diary in which they answered questions after engaging in what they called "doing nothing", although, in some cases, such doing nothing consisted of the rather active involvement of reading a book or watching the television. Those who walked "felt better, more alert and more relaxed".

Help with Depression

Hiking as a light-intensity exercise may prove useful for people suffering from depression. Research has indicated that hiking can be of immense benefit to a depressive human if used in conjunction with drug therapy and counseling. Sunlight and vitamin D can alleviate symptoms of seasonal depression. Hiking also has few side effects and is not stigmatized like taking medication, for example.

Memory Improvement

Regular walks can even increase brain volume and help us better remember events that happen to us. This was discovered in the year 2014 by researchers from the Netherlands and Canada. Aerobic exercises also enhance the size of the hippocampus which is the part of the brain that is involved in memory and space.

Creativity Boost

Stanford researchers found that creativity and thinking ability increase while and after hiking. Hence the study showed that whether one walks inside or outside, he or she is likely to gain creative ideas. Participants who walked had higher levels of creativity on all tests than those who sat all the time.

Conclusion

Start small. You can walk 5 minutes before or after work, or during lunchtime. You can travel around the attractions in Europe while you are hiking. When this becomes a habit of yours, then put another goal: to hike for 20 minutes right after work. And so on. Never be lazy, just keep doing something — that is the secret of being healthy.

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