I think by now we all know exercise is good for us. But just exercising the body isn’t enough these days. We also need to unplug and refresh our minds. Especially kids. We are drugging ourselves and our children to treat ADHD and depression. But consider a natural alternative. In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, hiking (or simply getting out into nature) can have therapeutic psychological and emotional effects. While studies admit that simply unplugging ourselves from technology may contribute significantly to increased creativity, whether hiking or simply immersing ourselves in nature, Attention Restoration Theory (ART) suggests that nature has specific restorative effects on the prefrontal cortex-mediated executive attention system (Kaplan 1995). So grab your hiking boots and take the advice our parents gave us; GO OUT AND PLAY!
Reference:
Kaplan S (1995) The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182. doi: 10.1016/0272-4944(95)90001-2
Nature is so healing. But you can take it a step further -- earthing. Walk barefoot on the ground. Bury yourself in the sand. Swim in the ocean. Go rock climbing and get your bare hands on those magnificent rocks.
Image source @mhrose
Brilliant. I guess I did a lot of earthing when I was a kid without even realizing it. Maybe I'll try to find that inner child again this summer.