Just like with cooking, it鈥檚 easy to let your outdoor pursuits become routine. Routines can be efficient and comforting, so naturally we all tend to have them. But the same way a new recipe can make cooking fun and exciting, a new adventure can make time outside more memorable and impactful. Here are three ways to shake things up.
Get to Really Know a Trail
Give your hiking a new twist by getting to know a local trail really, really well. Pick a trail close to home and try hiking it on three different days at three different times. See how the trail and the landscape it traverses are different at sunrise, midday, and sunset. How do things like birdcalls and sunlight change throughout the day? Now bring a friend at your favorite time.
Try Mindful Walking
Sitting meditation has many well-documented benefits, but it can be a challenge for some. Good news: practicing the same sort of focus while moving can offer similar mood- and health-boosting benefits. Enter mindful walking, which blends the focus of meditation with the movement of a walk through the park. It鈥檚 the ultimate way to shake up a simple outing.
Try this in a park that has gentle, well-maintained trails. Start by paying attention to your body as you walk, focusing on sensations like the impact of your feet on the ground and the sway of your arms as you stride. Next, focus on what you can see around you. Notice the colors, the shapes of what鈥檚 in your view. Move your focus to what you can hear. Is there a creek nearby or wind in the trees? How does the park smell? Has it rained recently, or are certain flowers blooming?
Don鈥檛 worry if you get distracted. That鈥檚 perfectly normal. Simply acknowledge the thoughts and return your focus to your senses. And don鈥檛 forget that taste is also one of the senses. Pack a bottle of protein drink and enjoy the refreshing fruity flavor.
Take a Full Moon Hike
You think hiking during the day is cool? Try trekking the same trail under the light of a full moon, which can reflect up to 12 percent of the sun鈥檚 light鈥攑lenty of illumination to see what鈥檚 in front of you while transforming your favorite trail into a completely different experience.
Here are five tips to help you execute the perfect full moon hike.
- Pick an easy trail you鈥檙e familiar with. It鈥檚 best to get comfortable night hiking without any navigation or terrain challenges.
- Give your eyes time to adjust to the softer light. It can take up to 45 minutes before you find yourself comfortable navigating under moonlight.
- Go slow. Even after your eyes adjust, you鈥檒l still need to take a slower pace. Remember: you鈥檙e out here to immerse yourself in the quiet of the night, not break speed records.
- Bring a headlamp just in case cloud cover obscures the moonlight. Pick one with a red light filter, which is easier on your eyes and won鈥檛 ruin the night vision of others in your group.
- Bring friends. It鈥檚 fun to share the experience, and as with any hike, it鈥檚 safer to have partners along.
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