Hiking is an amazing hobby. It is great for physical and mental health, it can be a social event, and it allows connecting to nature. Also, it doesn’t require a lot of investment and is accessible for all levels of fitness. That’s why it is so popular among students.
If you enjoy hiking and want to get better at it, it is useful to adopt several healthy habits in your daily life.
Do Body Scans
As anyone who does fitness, hikers need to always be mindful of the state of their bodies. This means knowing your capabilities and limits. Also, it means being connected to it to notice whether there are some pains or tensions.
General recommendations are good, but it is much better to know exactly what works for you. Make it a habit to do simple body scans regularly. Set a 5-minute timer and listen to your body. Track it from head to toe with your mind and notice any changes or inconveniences. Pay attention to the following:
- Tension in muscles;
- Posture;
- Joint pain or discomfort;
- Breathing.
If you have specific health conditions or pains – consult the doctor. Do medical checks regularly (once a year if everything is fine) and ask your doctor if there are any limitations to your physical activity.
Learn Stress-Relieving Techniques
The mental state is directly linked to physical health and performance. As a college student, you might experience a lot of stress daily. College curriculum can be challenging, and it is hard to manage everything. If you tend to struggle regularly with deadlines and experience signs of burnout, it is time to act.
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Students need to learn and apply stress-relieving techniques in their routines. This ensures better mood, mental state, and performance. You can try breathing exercises, yoga, art, crafts, or anything that works for you.
Establish a Nutritious Diet
Another important habit to form is eating well. It might be harder than it sounds. You need to create a diet that covers your energy and nutrition needs. It is also important to opt for high-quality foods and avoid highly-processed ones.
Your diet is the foundation of your health and overall well-being. And when you go for a hike, you need a lot of energy. Always pack enough food to make sure you can recharge and eat something with nutritious value.
Be cautious about extreme diet and weight-loss programs. The majority of them promote unhealthy standards and expectations. Also, extreme programs might result in health complications. Not to mention that a drastic lack of calories will make you tired and unfocused.
To eat better, students can:
- Cook at home more;
- Learn about elements and nutrients necessary for their body;
- Avoid highly-processed and sugary foods;
- Eat more whole-grain products;
- Incorporate enough fruit and vegetables in their food intake.
If you lack specific nutrients and elements, consider taking dietary supplements. But consult with a professional to know exactly what you need.
Drink Enough Water
This habit is useful for everyone, but especially for students hiking. You might be drinking not enough water if you feel tired and experience headaches and excessive hunger between meals. Also, the first sign is if your urine is brightly colored. It has to be transparent and lightly colored.
You need to drink more when you work out. If your workout is longer than 1 hour (which is common for hiking), make sure to add electrolytes to the water. Athletes need more vitamins and minerals as they leave the body with sweat.
Pay attention to your body and always have enough water in your backpack, whether you are heading to college or the mountains.
Invest in Proper Gear
Hiking doesn’t cost anything, but you need proper footwear and clothing to avoid any injuries. If you are going to a new city, always check the weather and specific conditions of the route. Make sure you are clothed to the situation.
It also should become a habit to clean and store your hiking gear properly. Dry any wet or soiled items right away and create an organizational system. Clean water bottles and food containers regularly.
The shoes you are wearing have to be comfortable, ergonomic, and reliable. Otherwise, you might injure yourself. So this is one thing students do not need to save on.
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Exercise Regularly
The more toned your body is, the easier the hike will be. So it is useful to exercise at home consistently. It doesn’t have to be HIIT training. General cardio is often enough to keep your body in shape.
Pay attention to your back and adopt exercises for this area specifically. You may try yoga or stretching to endorse back health. This is important to keep good posture and decrease the risk of developing back pain later on.
It is particularly useful for hikers that tend to carry a decent weight on their back. Also, remember to always do a warm-up before the hike.
Sleep Enough Hours
Yes, it might be difficult to get 8 hours of sleep every night in college. You probably want to go to a party once in a while. Or you might be stuck with the best paper writing services this time. But it is vital to establish a healthy sleeping routine.
It means sleeping for at least 8 hours a night. Also, try to go to bed and wake up at the same hour every day.
In Summary
If you are an avid hiker, you know that your lifestyle and habits impact your experience. The earlier you’ll start working on your healthy habits, the easier it will be to achieve new heights and go for exciting adventures.
