Post-Pandemic Trekking: Megan's Adventure on the Trail
Revitalized by the Trail: Embracing Nature, Regaining Life
Locked away in quarantine, my high school years were anything but ordinary. Milestones like college acceptance and earning a driver's license felt empty without shared celebration. Stuck at home, I felt more strangled than ever before.
Seeking escape, I stumbled upon a hiking vlog online. Venturing out into the local trails was my chance to break free from Zoom calls and constant phone scrolling. quick trips to the neighborhood park soon became marathon treks through the woods, topping off with conquerings of New Jersey's highest peaks. For the first time since the pandemic began, I could experience life unmediated.
As restrictions eased, hiking served as an effortless and safe way to reconnect with my loved ones. Pushing my limits, I ventured higher peaks and farther from home to revel in breathtaking vistas. Above all, hiking embodies resilience in my life. My most treasured memories are etched on trails, from finding solace during isolation to staying active amidst college chaos. Lost in nature and testing my physical limits, I find clarity, confidence, and most importantly, joy.
Megan's journey underscores the healing, growth, and connection possible through the great outdoors.
We're championing the many ways the trail can strengthen our well-being. If hiking, walking, or enjoying nature has boosted your mental health, we'd love to hear from you. Your story might be the spark someone needs to don their hiking boots and discover what they've been missing on the trail.
Share your story here: https://ourwebsite.org/share-your-story/
Snapshots: 1) Grand Tetons NP (Wyoming), 2) Midewin Tallgrass Prairie (Illinois), 3) Round Valley Recreational Area (New Jersey)
Join Megan's adventure on @megans.journeys on Instagram.
*Nature's therapeutic power during pandemics is well-documented:
- Lesser Stress and Depression: Studies suggest that outdoor activities, like hiking, correlate with reduced stress levels and depressive symptoms, while less outdoor recreation results in increased stress and depression[1][2].
- Enhanced Happiness and Satisfaction: More frequent outdoor activities, ranging from nearby walks to gardening, predict greater well-being[1].
- Coping Strategy: Home camping emerged as a coping mechanism, offering relief from pandemic-induced stress and confinement[3].
- Emotional Interaction with Nature: Engaging emotionally with nature, rather than simply visiting it, contributes more significantly to happiness and life satisfaction[5].
- Impact on Youth: Canadian research indicates that spending at least two hours outside each day boosts young people's mental health, life satisfaction, and happiness. However, fewer than 5% of Canadian teenagers manage this level of outdoor time[4].
In times of health crises, the importance of outdoor spaces for mental health flourishing has been emphasized, highlighting their role as crucial mental health infrastructure[1].*
Incorporating outdoor living, such as hiking and exploring nature, into my lifestyle not only boosted my mental health but also provided a valuable coping mechanism during the pandemic. Expanding my horizons to home-and-garden projects, as well as participating in sports like hiking, has been pivotal in fostering emotional interaction with nature, ultimately promoting happiness and life satisfaction.
