I Did A Thing…Hiking Through a Pandemic
2020 Has been a rollercoaster of emotions for all of us. We are hopefully at the tail end of a long pandemic that no one could have predicted. We’ve gone through months of social unrest and political misconduct. Many people have experienced loss of loved ones, loss of security, and loss of income. The world around us literally shut down.
With all outlets of entertainment being closed, it triggered a beautiful chain reaction.
More people picked up outdoor hobbies. It became hard to find a bike on Facebook Marketplace or at the bike store. Running and hiking trails became extremely crowded.
As a nurse, I took Covid-19 very seriously. I immediately took all precautions related to masks, gloves, and social distances. Although it lessened my chances of contracting Covid, it caused a lot of anxiety. My nerves were recked when it came time for grocery shopping and running errands. During this time, hiking became my refuge. I’m more calm away from crowds and in open air. It was peaceful.
Hiking has so many pros. I regret not starting earlier. It only took a pandemic and being banned from the mall and movies to force me into a healthy habit. None the less, I’ve started and plan to continue well after the world opens up. If you haven’t gone hiking yet, I would highly recommend trying for the following reasons…
Mood booster
There’s something about the greenery and fresh air that will lift your mood! It honestly helped relieve some of my pandemic anxiety.
Great health benefits
Hiking is a lower body and cardio workout that leads to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, higher bone density, and many other benefits. Try hiking if you dislike the gym but still want to be active.
It’s easy!
Trails are marked with different levels of intensity. You can take a cruise or choose a challenging hike.
Family friendly
Many have short flat paths that are safe for toddlers, strollers, and wagons.
FREE
There is no entrance fee and parking is also free at most trails.
Hopefully I’ve convinced you to give hiking a try. I certainly enjoy it and wish I’d started earlier. Check out the two links below for a list of the best New York and New Jersey trails. Also stay tuned for my next blog post, Hiking 101, that offers great tips for all the newbies. Sign up for my NEWSLETTER to receive an email notification about fun health topics like this.
2020 Has been a rollercoaster of emotions for all of us. We are hopefully at the tail end of a long pandemic that no one could have predicted. We’ve gone through months of social unrest and political misconduct. Many people have experienced loss of loved ones, loss of security, and loss of income. The world around us literally shut down.
NJ Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/us/new-york