The Best Time to Start Hiking is Now
The most important part of your journey is the beginning. Taking that first step is essential to embracing whatever adventure lies ahead. For those of you who are thinking about increasing the time you spend outdoors, this may feel like the wrong time to do it. It’s cold out! It rained twice this week! Believe me, I understand. But if you want to be spending a lot of time outdoors when the weather is nice, there’s no better time to start building a hiking, running, or exploring practice for yourself than right now.
Think about what’s stopping you from getting outside right now. Is it a lack of motivation? Are you not sure you have gear that will keep you warm, dry, and safe outside? Are you worried it will feel too hard?
One great way to get started anxiety-free (well...less anxiously!) is to release the expectations that are making you so anxious. You can use an app (like AllTrails) to see pictures of trails--some of them are managed carefully, so you don’t have to worry so much about sinking into mud or snow. Check the reviews for the trail before you go so you aren’t surprised when you get there.
And there’s no rule that says you have to go from 0 to 100. In fact, I recommend starting with a hike that looks easy to you! When you’re trying to build a habit, having a few good experiences to build on is incredibly important. Pick an adventure that’s short and tell yourself that if you really hate it, you can turn around. Taking the first step is all you really need.
As I wrote in another blog about how to get started hiking, you’ll want to consider hiking poles if you’re worried about stability on the trail. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been grateful to have mine with me.
And don’t underestimate the power of mindset. Whether or not you take that first step has so much to do with the things you tell yourself. Try encouraging yourself like you would a friend. Sometime we are the only ones holding ourselves back!
What’s stopping you from getting started today? How can you unblock yourself from meeting your goals?