Why Walking Holidays are the Ultimate Digital Detox

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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Why Walking Holidays are the Ultimate Digital Detox

If you’re looking to escape the pressures of daily life, surround yourself with inspiration, reconnect with nature, and work on your physical fitness, all at the same time, then it’s difficult to beat the right walking holiday.

Walking holidays in Europe tend to be accessible and affordable – and there are a number of great options to choose from. Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits that this form of break can bring.

Walking as a Natural Disconnect

When you’re walking, you’re often doing so without the burden of digital distraction. After all, it’s difficult to look at a screen when you’re on the move. It’s for this reason that a set of headphones can actually be an impediment to achieving the full benefits of a hike. When you’re alone with your own thoughts, or accompanied by a travelling companion, you’ll have a chance to reflect on things, and to move away from all of the negative emotions that might be causing you stress.

The Mental Toll of Constant Connectivity

Many of us have an instinctive understanding of the downsides of being constantly connected. Even having a phone sitting beside you at a desk can provide low-level temptation. You might have to fight the urge to check for notifications – and this can cause cognitive fatigue, even if you never actually succumb to that urge.

Changing your environment entirely can break up all of the small cues that persuaded you to reach for that phone in the first place. Stepping out into the open air, even for just a short time, can provide your brain with the reset it craves.

Reclaiming the Circadian Rhythm

Sleep matters. There’s a huge body of research that now demonstrates just how solid the link between quality sleep and good mental health outcomes is.

If you’re out on a multi-day walking trip, then you’ll find that you’re exposed to natural light throughout the day, and that you’re physically drained by the time you retire for the night. This can provide an antidote to the screen-filled bedtime routine that so many find so disruptive.

It might seem counterintuitive that so many are willing to pay to go on holiday, only to spend much of it unconscious. But the data show that this is precisely what’s going on.

Enhanced Wellbeing Through Nature Immersion

We should finally emphasise the link between time spent in nature and feelings of contentment and calm. Our minds have naturally adapted to crave natural, green surroundings – and that’s precisely what the best walking holidays tend to provide.

It’s worth reflecting on your personal preferences when you come to book your break. Whether you’d like to climb a mountain, explore a sun-drenched coast, or wander from one sleepy English village to the next, the chances are that there’s a break that’s right for you.