As a Steps Recovery Center, we often can’t help but talk about steps that can be taken to addiction recovery. One of those steps is to find an active hobby, such as hiking. Hiking can help you overcome addiction. Here’s how:
- It Will Help Distract You: Abusive substances are on your mind. You can’t seem to think about anything else. Hiking will help distract you from those obnoxious pulls toward drugs and alcohol. You can focus on walking, taking breaks, drinking water, and enjoying the scenery.
- Getting out into nature is good for you: Too much time indoors adds on unneeded stress. Getting outdoors will help you feel relaxed.
- It can help you become stronger and more able to get through withdrawals: Why be weak when we can become strong? Hiking is a beautiful activity to get your energy levels up and your body moving. Perhaps that strength and muscle from hiking will help you get through withdrawals.
- A little exposure to the sun is good for your body: The doctor may not officially prescribe it, but getting some Vitamin D from the sun may actually help prevent you from getting certain diseases. Plus, getting Vitamin D naturally from the sun is much more pleasant than taking a pill.
- You can make new friends: There are apps and websites where you can meet up with fellow nearby hikers. You may also find that you become closer to your current friends by hiking together. Just make sure that you trust whoever you go with and that you try to never go alone.
- Nature helps us remember what it’s like to actually breathe: We don’t know about you, but going into the mountains, or a meadow, and breathing in that clean, refreshing air is a special feeling to us.
- Getting out there in the beautiful wonders of this world does something that makes us naturally happy: This one is self-explanatory. Nature = happiness, at least for most people.
So go on, get out there, take some trail mix, and go hiking. If you need help overcoming addiction, come to a Steps Recovery Center.
