Take a Hike…to Feel Less Stressed
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iStock/Thinkstock(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) — If you can’t see the forest for the trees, at least take a walk in the woods because it might help you to de-stress.
A multi-school study led by the University of Michigan has determined that outdoor group hikes might cure what ails you, especially if you suffered a personal traumatic event such as a death in the family, a break-up or a firing.
Senior author Sara Warber says that while common wisdom dictates that a little fresh air and a walk are good for people, “there haven’t been many studies of this large size to support the conclusion that these behaviors actually improve your mental health and well-being.”
After evaluating close to 2,000 people who belong to a English walking club, Warber and her team concluded that such an activity “may not only improve someone’s daily positive emotions but may also contribute a non-pharmacological approach to serious conditions like depression.”
Best of all, according to Warber, this kind of natural therapy doesn’t cost a dime.
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