How Getting Outdoors Can Improve Mental Health

One of mine, and many other students, main struggles during everything we’re going through has been maintaining mental health. With hearing constant news about Covid-19, SAT’s, college applications, and the huge changes in the same school-day routine we’ve been following for the past almost four years, comes stress. A lot of stress. However, through these difficult times, you need to look out for yourself. Although it can be hard to admit, you have to come to terms with your struggles in mental health, and do whatever you can to stay positive and stay on top of things. For me, my outlet has turned into hiking. Since I started to notice the effects of such negativity in the world on my own mental health during quarantine, I started by going on small hikes and drives with my older sister, Liv. Since then, I’ve gotten my friends to join me and appreciate everything around us. I used these pictures in an attempt to radiate the happy vibes and tranquility we experience while hiking, watching sunsets, and seeing the natural beauty of Connecticut. I often refer to one of my favorite spots as my “happy place” or my “automatic calm down”. When sitting on this specific mountain, watching the sun go down, the sky change colors, and the stars come out, I experience one of the best feelings on earth, happiness. My friends and I have made some of the best memories while hiking, some that I’ll never let myself forget. Some of these times will be stories I tell my kids, encouraging them to get off their butts and get outside, because who knows how distracting technology will be by then. This is something I’ve developed a huge passion for over these past several months, as it’s kept me positive and optimistic. It’s crazy that something as easy and natural as hiking can do such a wonderful thing to your well-being. This world is as beautiful and powerful as you want it to be, you just need to start appreciating the pretty things in life and keeping yourself in check.