Many of the best ideas come while walking. And when the walk lasts several days in the mountains, something more happens: the mind quiets down and what matters becomes clear.
Does walking improve creativity?
Oppezzo and Schwartz (2014), from Stanford University, found that walking increased creative idea generation by 60% on average compared with sitting.
Why does walking in nature calm the mind?
Bratman and colleagues (2015) observed that a 90-minute walk in a natural setting, unlike one in the city, reduced rumination (the cycle of repetitive negative thoughts) and activity in the related brain region.
What's special about a multi-day trek?
There's no task other than walking, eating and sleeping. Days become simpler, the body gets tired in the good way and the mind finds space. On the way to Everest Base Camp, in the valleys of Kyrgyzstan or in Patagonia, every day is earned on foot.
Frequently asked questions
- Does walking help with stress?
- Yes, especially in nature, where it also reduces repetitive thoughts.
- Do you need to be in great shape for a trek?
- It depends on the trek; each trip states its difficulty level.
- What is a trek?
- It's a walk of several days through mountains or nature, sleeping along the way.
Related trips
Keep reading
This article is for information only and does not replace consultation with a health professional.
Sources
- Oppezzo, M. y Schwartz, D. L. (2014). Give your ideas some legs. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.
- Bratman, G. N. et al. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. PNAS.
