How to Fall in Love With Hiking

I was never a nature kind of gal. There was always something I would rather be doing, or the weather wasn’t “quite right,” and that kept me inside, until someone forced me to come on a hike. I was insufferable. I complained, lagged behind, and would sometimes simply refuse to keep going. But then the pandemic came along, and it forced me to find ways to spend time with people outdoors other than sitting on a beach. 

This left hiking as the only option, and I decided to make it my own personal mission to “fall in love” with it, my way.

Anything can be “hiking”

Hiking is often associated with dragging yourself up a mountain for several hours or something that only people who are considered “athletic” can enjoy. That is not the case. Anyone can hike and there are so many activities that can be considered hiking. You can go for a walk in a park, on a nature trail, or even in your backyard. Hiking is what you make it.

Choose what you want

Something that always bothered me with hiking was the length. I don’t know about you, but hearing someone say that we were going to go on a “four-hour hike” made me not want to go at all, and definitely made me not enjoy myself when I was hiking. What helped me was realizing I can turn around at any point. This is my hike and the summit does not really matter if I am not going to enjoy the hike in general. 

Hiking does not have to be strenuous

I cannot stress this enough, but the sole purpose of hiking does not have to be physical activity. It can be to spend time with friends, time with yourself, time in nature, and so on. Adapt the hike to what you want and need.

 

I used to hate hiking because I thought it was “glorified running,” and sometimes it was, depending on who was taking me. But when I went on my own and made my own rules, I went slower, took pictures, and enjoyed myself, no running involved.

Don’t do the parts of hiking you don’t enjoy

Lastly, if there is a part of hiking you don’t like, then don’t do it. If you don’t want it to be uphill, then don’t pick an uphill hike. If you don’t want to go all day, then turn around or pick a short hike. Bring food, listen to music (respectfully), and do whatever you want, because at the end of the day, this is your hike to enjoy and make your own.

• exercise
• hiking
• nature
• Social Distancing