Why Hiking Is Shifting Boundaries

More and more, we see people going nuts for nature. People getting outside, traveling far away, taking vacation time from work, to go hiking. Your family, friends, and coworkers. They come back, generally raving about their experience. "The views were awesome," or, "Everything was so gorgeous out there," frequently grace the lips of those recently returned. But the question should be asked - is hiking having a more substantial effect then just providing people with a good view and some exercise?

The sources show that it is. Angel Martinez, the CEO of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, noted that "[o]utdoor activities are components in the lives of increasingly complex individuals who cross industry boundaries and defy traditional molds."

So you need new ideas for a project to give your boss? You want a change in your life but can't figure out where and what it should be? You want to shake things up but aren't sure how? Take a hike. Not only will it help free your mind, but it boosts your creative problem solving and soothes you in ways that can't occur elsewhere. Psychologists Ruth Ann Atchley and David L. Strayer conducted a study where participants went on a 4 day backpacking trip, sans technology. They then tested them on their creative problem solving abilities, and found that the people who experienced the tech-free hike were 50% more successful in solving the problems then people who had gone about their daily routine. 50%!! Just imagine the possibilities if each of us were that much more creative in our problem solving and day to day thinking.

Hiking shifts other mental boundaries too. Normally, hiking requires a decent amount of travel, including going out of the state you live in. This opens up your mental state to new arenas. Because you are willing to travel outside of your comfort zone, your thoughts are more likely to drift there as well, allowing for your thoughts and ideas to "defy traditional molds" of society.

In addition to opening mental boundaries, traveling and hiking provides for new experiences that could drastically affect your life in ways you can't even imagine.

You gain new experiences and memories every day. But in the working world, those experiences and memories and somewhat limited. Hiking provides an outlet through which you can gain new, possibly more thought-provoking experiences, simply because they are different.

And while different doesn't always mean good, it does mean distinct. And one distinct experience can change your whole outlook on life.

But hiking doesn’t stop there. The act of traveling across state boundaries provides a sense of “breaking” boundary barriers, which transcends into the brain as something that can be applied to everyday life. Meaning, that when you physically cross boundaries you don’t normally, (i.e. crossing state lines) your brain registers that as an allowance to cross boundaries that aren’t physical as well (i.e. crossing social norm lines). This provides more opportunities for a person because it could lead to the creation of something that normally would not occur because of social norms.

The best thing about a person having opportunities and not feeling particularly restricted by the social norms is that they can do anything. They could create a new sort of business, be part of an activist group, find a cure for cancer, become a sports star, or whatever they want, because they don’t feel held back by society. It is entirely up to them, their skill set, their determination, and their wants and needs.

In other words, hiking is shaping our ability to become a more true version of ourselves - by slapping social norms into submission and stopping the restrictions that they would normally feel, they get a sense that they can do what they want, as long as they put the work and effort in. This could lead to any sort of advancements, in any field. It solely depends on the person and what they want to put into it, which provides amazing potential for growth in the human race.

Hiking is shifting the boundaries like none other. The breaking of boundaries physically leads to the breaking of boundaries mentally, all while stabilizing the mind and leading to much more creative problem solving when people experience hiking in the correct context. Hiking is a way for interact with nature and become more in tune with our own selves, and hiking gives back in turn by allowing us to become better versions of ourselves.

Thank you hiking.