Take a mindful hike this winter

Need some fresh air? Our resident psychologist Catherine Morey-Nase explains how an occasional hike in the great outdoors won’t only benefit your physical body, but also has significant benefits on our mental health.

Hiking in nature provides an opportunity to tune in — both to our own experience and to the world around us. While it can be easy to get lost in thought or daydreams while hiking, the simple practice of mindfulness can draw us more closely into our experience of the natural world.

Hiking outdoors can also deepen our connection with friends and family.

Hiking while enjoying great conversation and laughter is one of life’s most enjoyable activities, it’s about remembering to stop and smell the roses, or the eucalyptus, as the case may be.

Unlike a traditional gym, the added benefit is that you are getting some fresh air. Hiking exercises both your body and your mind, and the benefits are endless, including:

• stress and anxiety reduction
• increased energy, emotional regulation
• enhanced awareness and creativity
• improved concentration
• increased productivity

While walking, you strengthen and oxygenate all of the major muscle groups including your brain, and rejuvenating your senses while captivating your heart.

Nature truly has a healing and restorative power, being outdoors also helps alleviate stress and anxiety, and assists with recovery from mental fatigue.

While seated meditation practice is important, hiking is also a great opportunity to be more mindful in an informal way.

Our top tips for mindful hiking

Mindfulness is a simple practice which can reduce stress and increase calmness. Learning how to be mindful while hiking is straightforward, and the benefits can come quickly.

1. Pay attention to each step;
2. Bring awareness to your senses;
   1. Stop and look at what is above and below you
   2. Pause and listen to the soothing sounds of the outdoors
   3. Touch and feel the contact of air against your skin
   4. Smell the scents around you

Here's a list of our favourite places to take a mindful hike

The list below is a good start to plan your journey to mindfulness.

New South Wales

The Grand Canyon Loop at Blue Mountains National Park.  See more here.

Victoria

The Toorongo Falls Circuit Walk in West Gippsland. See more here.

Queensland

The Curtis Falls Circuit at Mt Tambourine. See more here.

South Australia

The Ridge Trail at Mt George Conservation Park. See more here.

Western Australia

The Bells Rapids River Walk in Swan Valley. See more here.

Northern Territory

The Barrk Sandstone Walk at Kakadu National Park. See more here.

Tasmania

Russell Falls in Mt Field National Park.  See more here.

Don't have time to go on a hike?  No worries!  Simply head outside and do the Connecting with Nature activity in the Smiling Mind app.