These days, we’re always reachable, and that can get really tiring. Being constantly connected, along with our busy routines, often leads to digital burnout. You know the feeling: your mind feels heavy, you’re worn out, maybe a bit irritable, and it’s tough to fall asleep. That’s stress, but it gets even worse.
The hardest part about digital burnout is that it makes us less productive and creative, and our performance drops. But here’s some good news: sometimes, the solution is as simple as going for a walk.
Why a Walking Holiday?
First things first, I know that you must be wondering what a walking holiday is, and it’s exactly what you imagine: a trip where the main activity is just walking, trekking, or hiking, usually for a whole day between towns or accommodations.
But why is it an antidote to our busy daily life? Well, the thing is that our daily lives are stressful, especially when we are wired to stay connected, but our brains were never meant to handle this much information at once.
That’s why when we are on a walking holiday, we are physically removing ourselves from that exact environment that causes our stress.
Also, despite the huge amount of benefits that walking brings, it also gives us a natural reason to disconnect.
When we are outside, for example, in the alpine meadows of Austria, our minds are busy taking in the stunning landscape, and since we are doing a physical activity, our hands will be free from phones or gadgets. This is a massive relief for a brain that is used to being overstimulated.
Benefits of Walking Outside in Nature
Being outside feels nice, that’s true, but it’s not just a feeling; there’s actual science behind that… when we stay inside for longer periods of time, especially working or doing demanding tasks, our stress hormones like cortisol stay high, which keeps our brains in a state of fight or flight all the time.
Now, as soon as we step outside and take a walk, our stress hormones get lower and lower. In fact, just a few days in nature can reduce our cortisol a lot.
It also calms the part of your brain that handles fear and stress. I mean, imagine a walking holiday in Slovenia, where the air is clean, and the landscape is raw and stunning… there’s no way we can’t calm down there!
In the first few hours, our brain starts to calm down and move out of that high-alert mode and start moving into a state of relaxation. This transition lets our mind rest and recover.
Also, being in natural light for longer periods of time resets our internal clock, which translates to drifting off at night more easily and getting better sleep.
A Solution Made Even Better
While walking holidays are the BEST option to unwind and reset from our daily life, those types of trips do come with their own set of drawbacks, like planning… putting together a trip like this is not an easy task; you must take care of so many things that can make the task overwhelming.
This is where a great agency makes all the difference, and a good example is Orbis Ways, a top-tier travel agency that specializes in making walking holidays easy and enjoyable. They are known for having a team packed with experts in the field, perople that actually did the hikes, and this is easily noticeable if you check their reviews, which are glowing.
Orbis Ways offers a huge range of products, from the famous Camino de Santiago to walking holidays in Scotland. They handle all of the logistics for you, from booking amazing places to stay to moving your luggage between accommodations. They also offer 24-hour support, daily breakfasts, and transfers.
Conclusion
The benefits of a walking holiday greatly outweigh any drawbacks. They are valuable and a way to invest in yourself. A walking holiday is a good way to show that you’re in control of your life, time, and health. The best part is that you don’t need to be an expert hiker to enjoy it. You just need the desire to explore something new and the willingness to put your phone down for a bit.