The Outdoor Itch

The modern man is a creature often found on his couch. Having outgrown the need to hunt for his food, he now conquers the frozen pizza.

After millions of years of trial, error, and evolution, is frozen pizza and sunday football really all we have to show for it?

Luckily for humanity, this is not entirely true. Just as our ancestors did, we crave the outside world. These days, however, this craving manifests in many different ways.

Extreme sports are one expression of this craving. What better way to supplement the need for stimulation then by hurtling down a snowy mountain slope two waxed toothpicks made of wood and steel?

How about climbing up the side of a cliff in the middle of the desert, or wakeboarding across the glossy surface of a lake at breakneck speeds?

However, not everyone has the stomach for a high-adrenaline sport. This does not mean they should avoid the outdoors.

A survey conducted by NRPA found that 92% of adults felt better mentally after time spent at local recreational spaces such as parks. You really don’t need the adrenaline aspect to reap the rewards of a day spent under the blazing sun.

Spending an hour a week near a body of water can contribute positively to your overall wellbeing, even if it's just sitting by the water's edge. Hiking exercises a multitude of muscles, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep.

There are so many ways to get outside and fulfill that biological itch.

And once you’ve discovered the power of the outdoors, it’s nearly impossible to go back to the couch-centered lifestyle.

That neighbor of yours, who takes his sons hunting every holiday weekend? He’s got the itch.

That bubbly Gen Z in your bookclub with a passion for snowboarding? She’s got it too.

The outdoor runner, the beach tanner, the fishing enthusiast- these activities may look completely different, but they share the same pull toward the wider world.

So next time the load of everyday life hits you like a brick over the head, don’t feel guilty for taking a break. Take it- but maybe try going on a walk, instead of reaching for the remote and that bag of potato chips.

After all, that movement, the soothing sounds of birds calling to each other, and the wind on your cheeks have the capacity to restore you more than you might expect. Who knows? Maybe one walk could change your life.

For more reads like this one, check out the Alpine Mountain Escape Blog.