Take a Hike

Tara Sullivan

She/Her

Contributor

10/25/24

When you first come to college and finally have your own space it can be hard to prioritize leaving it, but getting out of your dorm is important to your mental health.

Fortunately, Plymouth State is in the perfect location to get outside. Just outside of the campus there are many woods trails and we are not far from many popular hiking spots. I personally think that everyone here should take full advantage of Plymouth State’s location and try a difficult hike at least once. In my opinion, hiking is one of the most freeing and rewarding activities you can do. It is so peaceful once you climb high enough that you can no longer hear the busy highway and are completely immersed in nature.

Though it is not always an easy stroll, the feeling of accomplishment and pride you will have upon completing a difficult hike, paired with the breathtaking views of the whites is unmatched. Hiking allows you to see things you never thought you would see, pictures from the tops of mountains don’t do justice when looking at it yourself from 4,000+ feet high. Being able to look down at what you just climbed is so empowering and motivating you won’t want to climb back down. But once you do there is no better feeling than when you and your friends finally see the car through the trees and use the last bit of energy you have left to sprint down and reunite with the soft car seats and a change of shoes.

Even if you’re not an outdoorsy person and don’t enjoy hiking, there are so many good spots to sit and relax or do homework like Fox Park, Mary Lyon Lawn, the beaches along the Pemi, or Langdon Woods to name a few.  

According to the American Psychological Association, spending time outside can improve attention span, lower stress, heighten your mood, reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders, and is linked to upticks in empathy and cooperation. This is because being outside allows our brains to slow down and take a break. For instance, if you are cooped up in your dorm all day working on a stressful assignment, even taking a short walk outside will give your brain a rest.

Breathing in fresh air will calm you down and allow you to be more focused. Staying in an enclosed space for a long time is linked to anxious and depressed thoughts. Going outside and reminding yourself that there is more to life than the essay due on Monday can restart your brain and even improve academic performance.