7 Reasons Why a Hiking Holiday is The Perfect Holiday to Unwind
Walking holidays, hut trips, hiking tours: I swear by them! Not only because I love hiking and nature, but also because it’s the perfect way to really unwind. Something that for many people is not always obvious during their holidays. In this blog, I’ll explain why walking holidays are so good for that extra bit of rest.
1. You get moving
Doing nothing seems like the ideal way to relax on holiday, but it often doesn’t work. Stress hormones are not immediately out of your body after a busy (working) period, so you can still feel pretty restless at the start of your holiday. Therefore, go for a nice walk or bike ride. This releases serotonin, which immediately makes you feel more relaxed. Our bodies are designed to move and feel good. And this is the main ingredient of a walking holiday.
2. Nature is restful
Nature is fantastic! It seems that just looking at a plant or a nature poster has a calming and stress-relieving effect. Just think how much calmer you will be if you hike the Alta Via 1 Dolomites for a week!
3. It is easy to do nothing for a change
Many people want to get the most out of their holiday: visiting cities, museums, the best hotspots, etc. But that can also cause a lot of stress. But that can also cause a lot of stress and unrest. Therefore, try to consciously do nothing and be okay with the fact that you will not see some things. When you go on a walking holiday, you often have such a moment of rest in the evening. There is nothing better than reading a book in the evening after a long walk with your feet up.
4. Even if you want to, you can’t take your work with you
In order to fully relax, it is essential that you leave your work at home. Don’t check your email and definitely don’t take your laptop on holiday. And that’s just not an option on a walking holiday. Not only is it unnecessary weight, but your laptop is also insufficiently protected against rain and you often have no coverage in the mountains anyway.
5. Be in the here and now
Being in the here and now, isn’t that ultimately how you come to rest best? Enjoying everything that is now, without worrying about the past or the future. But however easy it may sound, in practice it is often more difficult to really get into the here and now. It often becomes easier if you become aware of a sense in the here and now. So what do you see or feel now? Hiking holidays can contribute to this in two ways. On the one hand, mountain walking is a slow movement. Because of this slowness, you yourself are slowing down, so that you have much more time to look at everything around you. Look at the flowers or the beautiful mountain peaks. On the other hand, your heart rate and breathing go up because of mountain walking, a good moment to practise feeling your body. What sensations do you feel? Where do you feel your body working hard? And how does it feel to feel your heart again?
6. Take a moment to reflect on life
Your holiday is also a good moment to reflect. How are you really doing? What are your dreams? What are you satisfied with and what would you like to change? Which people are important to you and do you pay enough attention to them? But with many holidays you don’t get around to this or you don’t think about it. In my experience, a walking holiday is different. Relaxation combined with movement calms your mind and gives rise to new creative ideas. Suddenly it is clear what you really want.
7. Perception and mood are closely related
Observe with attention, look and listen to your surroundings. Be amazed. Look at the setting sun, feel the grass of the mountain meadow tickle under your feet and take in the grandeur of the mountains. This relaxes you and makes you feel good immediately. Enjoy a drink on the terrace of a mountain hut on the Alta Via 2 Map and look around you. It is these little things that bring you the greatest happiness and they stay with you the longest. Consciously save these moments so that you can remember them at home when things get tough. That way you will feel good about the same thing twice.
What makes hiking holidays so enjoyable for you?
*This is a collaborative post
