We all spend far too much time indoors, whether it’s for work or for fun. Even in California, which is overrun with natural beauty and easy ways to get outside, so many of the things we do each day happen sitting down, or with a roof over our heads, and we don’t spend nearly as much time outdoors as we used to.
As kids, or even teenagers, we’d spend a whole day running around outside, making up games and chasing bugs, but now that we’re adults, we have fewer and fewer excuses to get out in the dirt. It’s vitally important to our health to get some fresh air and move around , so finding ways to work time in nature into an everyday routine is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Hiking is amazing because there are hikes of every length and climb for everyone’s fitness level, and they’re abundant and free.
Fresh Air
It has been scientifically shown that breathing fresh air and smelling outdoor scents can reduce anxiety and boost mood. Different plants can have aroma-therapeutic effects on the brain, and help with sleep, appetite, and stress. Breathing fresh oxygen, and not just recycled indoor air, is also important. Oxygen can affect your serotonin levels, which regulate your mood, energy, and sleep, so even just going out onto a balcony or porch and taking some deep breaths can have amazing benefits.
Breathing in polluted air can have the opposite effect, however, and people with asthma or other lung problems should take care to reduce exposure to smog and exhaust. On a hiking trail, the trees provide cover and natural filtration and can help remedy this. Making sure to get out into the open air in nature and staying hydrated are a great ways to help your body protect you from the toxins you might be inhaling if you live somewhere like central Los Angeles or San Francisco, with lots of smog and pollution.
Movement
Getting outside is especially important because it gets you off your butt and moving around! You don’t need to tackle a 9-hour hike up a mountain or go for a run. Even an easy walk in nature for 20 minutes has been shown to elevate vitality levels compared to staying indoors all day. And, if you’re someone who hates the gym, finding an outdoor exercise you like can be the perfect solution. Hiking is easy in California because you don’t need expensive equipment or a membership, but walking on beautiful the beach cliffs in Santa Cruz or just taking a stroll through a redwood forest are all miles better than just sitting on the sofa.
The way humans choose to exercise and what we consider ‘healthy living’ has changed over the years, but exercise, no matter what type, has remained a constant throughout the decades of changing body ideals . Californians have a reputation for being outdoorsy and active, and it’s for good reason. We have more beautiful natural features than we know what to do with, and staying active is easy.
Getting regular exercise is perhaps the single greatest way to improve your health overall, with far ranging benefits from improved sleep, to more regular appetite. If you sit at a desk all day, try to sit outside during your lunch break and stretch your back and shoulders so you’re not sore or sleepy, and make sure to plan some outside time on the weekend to help your body recover from long days at the office.
Nutrition
Another way to spend time in nature without packing up and moving to the woods is to focus on integrating natural and plant foods into your diet. Eating vegetables and fruits that have pulled nutrients from the soil are an amazing way to get those nutrients easily. Finding organic or local produce also gives you the immune benefits of adjusting your system to natural bacteria in the area where you live. Local, seasonal produce is also often less expensive and tastier because it doesn’t have to be shipped halfway across the world to get to you. Next time you’re on a hike, pay attention to the plants and trees to learn what produce is fresh and local in your area.
If you’re in the Redwoods in Northern California, keep an eye out for chanterelle mushrooms growing on the wet ground. In Southern California, prickly pear cactus, olives, and wild fennel all grow in deserts and along trails and are easy to identify. Then, find a farmer’s market or farm shop near you and explore what options they have to offer. California is an amazing location for fresh produce because almost everything grows here, so take advantage of the wide array of options. It’ll shake up your diet, and help you feel more connected to the natural features of the area where you live.
Connection
Connecting to nature can sound like a ‘hippie’ thing, but the research backs it up. People who spend more time in nature are often more balanced, and have better perspective and mental health. Any enthusiastic hiker will sing the benefits of getting out in nature and experiencing the balance and calm that comes from a good hike. John Muir Woods are notorious for this sense of calm, and any of Muir’s works extol the virtues of being in the woods. When you’re stressed or busy, it’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture, and nothing brings you back to earth like a tree taller than your apartment building or a river roaring more loudly that the engine on a bus.
A solo hike is a sort of meditation for many, and taking time to process your day and thing through the things weighing on your mind will free up your mental energy to spend on the things that really matter to you. If you struggle to find time to spend in nature, you can always try to mix it in with existing plans.
In Palo Alto, The Dish is a popular hiking trail through rolling hills right next to Silicon Valley that’s often packed with tech workers at lunch time looking for some outside time close to the office. In San Diego, Balboa Park is well known for easy access and beautiful hikes of all lengths and difficulties. Instead of meeting an old friend for lunch at a cafe, grab sandwiches and go for a hike in a park or nature preserve. If you have a work call or a meeting, suggest a walk around the block while you talk. Studies show that walking meetings are just as productive , if not more, and can facilitate more open communication.
It isn’t always easy for busy Californians to spend time in nature hiking, but it’s well worth the effort. For those of us lucky enough to live near hiking trails, it’s just a quick trip, but for those without access to a forest or river nearby, finding little ways to bring nature into your life every day is particularly beneficial.
