Whether it’s a full on hike or stroll in your local park, a walk does great things for mind and body. When you’re first starting out going on solo walks, you may feel a bit odd. We’re so used to walking somewhere with a purpose, walking just for the sake of it seems out of place.
We’ll going through the five things you’ll experience when you start taking walks (or hikes) on your own.
You’ll enjoy the silence while hearing all kinds of things
As you take your first solo walk, you may be surprised at how different it feels from walking with a destination in mind. But one of the joys of walking alone is being able to fully immerse yourself in the sounds of nature around you.
You’ll hear the crunching of leaves beneath your feet, the chirping of birds in the trees, and the rustling of small animals in the underbrush. And as you listen to these natural sounds, you’ll find that the silence that surrounds you is not empty, but rather filled with a calming and meditative energy.
So take a deep breath, let go of your worries, and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment as you embrace the peacefulness of your walk.
You’ll wonder why [the ?$!%] you’re doing this
While in this meditative process, or somewhere around two-thirds of your walk, you’ll wonder why you did this. The fatigue may be setting in, the weather is turning, the pub is far away: why did I want to do this?
It is normal when you do something challenging that something small can kick of a large negative response. Maybe your walk isn’t physically challenging, but going out on your own is. Maybe you’re struggling with a restless mind that won’t shut off.
A small pebble finds it’s way in your shoe, the wind turns a different way: suddenly this hike was the worst idea you ever could have come up with!
Remind yourself you did had a reason to go out on this walk. Maybe to challenge exactly these responses! State your reasons and be proud of how well you’ve done so far – and aim to finish what you started; you’ve got this!
You’ll become more aware of your body
I don’t mean the part where you might be sweating and panting like a horse. When you start walking on your own, you’ll become more aware of the strength of your body, how comfortable you move when you hit the right stride.
This physical awareness is a way of meditating. The more often you do this, the easier and quicker you’ll be able to identify when you do feel off, and you can adjust accordingly.
Maybe there’s a sluggishness in your muscles that tells you to slow down, a slight warmth in a joint that needs rest, or the crackling feeling of dust shaking off, saying “you’ve sat for too long, let’s go!”.
You’ll improve your confidence and self-assurance
As you navigate your first solo hike, you may feel a sense of trepidation or doubt. But as you progress through the walk, each step forward can give you a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance.
Successfully navigating a trail on your own can boost your self-esteem and help you feel more confident in your abilities. With each new hike, you’ll become more comfortable with the challenges and obstacles that come your way, and you’ll develop a greater sense of trust in yourself and your capabilities.
This newfound self-confidence can extend beyond your walks and into other areas of your life, helping you to tackle challenges and achieve your goals, step-by-step. So embrace the challenges of the trail, and let the sense of accomplishment you feel propel you forward in all aspects of your life.
You’ll notice that hiking on your own really isn’t that weird
Of course we know that doing things solo isn’t strange at all. We admire people who do so all the time.
When it comes to ourselves though, our doubts can get the better of us. When you’re out on your first few solo hikes, you’ll find that you’re not the only one at all. On weekdays and quiet moments you may find the solo hikers far outmatch the groups.
Take a moment and file this experience in your memory bank for the next time you go out on your own: it really isn’t that weird, no one will point and laugh at you, and you might actually enjoy yourself!