The First-Day Hike is nearly upon us. Nothing spells active rest, reflection, and New Year intention ideation, like a little jaunt out in your local green space on the first day of the year. Whether that’s at your local city park, state or national park, snow-covered, wet, or dry — alone, as a couple, or family — it’s a great way to kick off the year —
Before you run and dismiss “First-Day Hike” as something that sounds exhausting, for outdoorsy people, or “insert a weather reason why not to”, read my top five reasons why you may want to consider a little (or as long as you like) hike this January 1st –
New Year’s gifts found out in nature —
1. Experience & Memory-Building – If you were to ask people if they remember “a product” or “an experience” from their childhood or adulthood — most people remember experiences far easier than products — unless that product helped them have an experience or is associated with experiences. We don’t have to wait for the end of our lives to allow room for memorable experiences. Not only are “first-day hikes” opportunities to create memories — they can become a fun tradition whether solo, as a couple, or as a family.
2. Your Presence – Presence is a life-changing difference-maker in a society often distracted by digital devices with apps purposely designed to create behavioral addictions often contributing to public health concerns stemming from digital overstimulation and other factors. When individuals are new to hiking, many are often focused on getting to the end destination as quickly as possible, or highly consumed with safety/trail navigation, constantly checking one’s phone (digital withdraw), and thinking of the past or future with thoughts like “when I get home, I need to do x,y,z.” Or “Oops, I left the garage door open.” If you were to ask new hikers to recap their experience in terms of what they’ve seen, heard, noticed, and realized — Many may only initially remember the basics, “ie: trees, dirt, rocks, heat/cold, sun/clouds/rain, their feet, and the end destination”. Your presence is a key to remembering and savoring the journey, so how can you optimize your presence on a hike?
While I love to guide outdoor experiences to help facilitate greater presence, well-being, and curiosity, and to help reduce safety/navigational anxieties among many other reasons — you can become more present by:
- Know before you go to ease navigational safety concerns of larger state & national parks – Download a trail navigation app and/or preview the park-provided trail map online (I highly recommend the All-Trails app – see why here). Review your map ahead of time to know where you want to go. Start the live map at the beginning of your experience or review the park trail map (screenshot it) and put your phone away on low battery mode to preserve power (in reach, but out of view). Tell someone where you’re going (park, time, what you’re wearing & trail) and send them a picture of you that day. Bring a compass (the red needle point directs you north). If in doubt, know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. This will help ease safety navigational concerns. If you’re brand new to outdoor walks & hikes, try low mileage & elevation first and build from there.
- Focus on your senses to for greater presence- As you’re hiking, pay attention to each of your senses. What do you see (observe small/large/up close/far away), Notice any smells, What does the place feel like? (Touch your natural landscapes), Notice tastes (even if it’s only your water), What do you hear? (Close your eyes and listen – it helps to bring it further into focus), and practice deep breathing to further calm your nervous system. Focusing on your senses helps to ground you and helps to manage ongoing stress, anxiety, anger, or grief, in addition to fueling well-being.
3. Preserving Your Health – There are numerous research studies, both clinical and non-clinical, that show the many positive effects of spending time in nature, whether you hike, walk, or go for a guided nature experience including:
- Reducing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, mental fatigue, and symptoms associated with trauma, ADHD,
- Increase sense of gratitude, motivation, patience, & life satisfaction
- Improves sleep, mood, creativity, focus, and even quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s & dementia
4. Space for Gratitude & Intention-Setting – Taking a first-day hike or walk in your local green space is a wonderful opportunity to consider what we can be grateful for and what our primary intentions are for the year ahead. While intentions and goals can be set and started at any time of the year, the new year offers yet another opportunity to consider your focus areas in 2024.
5. Experience why green spaces and land conservation are important – Whether you’re solo or with family and/or friends, guided or unguided, through exploring your local green spaces, you’ll make memories while enjoying your full presence in addition to the various multitude of potential health benefits. Green spaces are not only vital to the public health of our communities, but also aid in community engagement & learning, clean air and water, and conserve natural ecosystems while providing a sustainable eco-framework.
If you have time for a first-day hike or walk — consider reviewing the upcoming “First Day Hike” events at your local National or State Park list, choose a local park or green space to go for a stroll, or if you’re in Austin, Texas general area, come register and join me up north for a complimentary family-friendly short 2.5 mile easy guided hike at Cedar Breaks Park at Lake Georgetown on January 1st at 1 PM CT where we’ll explore San Gabriel River Trail Goodwater Loop Trail to a special lookout point (+ $5 park entry fee). If you’re interested in any of our other local nature-based experiences, explore here, or sign up for our monthly “Sunrise Journal” for well-being and environmental tips – in partnership with nature.
Sources: Dose of Nature. “A selection of studies demonstrating some of the benefits of exposure to nature.” https://www.doseofnature.org.uk/studies1
*None of the references above were paid endorsements.