HIKE TO BECOME
challenge & TRAIL GUIDE
H
Hike or Walk
Movement is medicine. It creates bilateral stimulation and balances the left and right hemispheres in your brain. Hiking is actually just walking.
I
In Nature
Find a place to hike or walk where you can see more nature elements like blue sky, green grass, brown hills, or ocean waves then buildings and concrete.
K
Keep it off
Even your damn smartwatch. Tech will distract you from the process and all of the benefits you can exponentially gain by doing it. Just leave it off, in airplane mode or at home.
E
Everyday
Practice this every day for at least 30 minutes, for 31 days straight. If you forget a day, don’t give up. Just get back to the trail the next day. This is all about intention, not perfection.
Frequently asked
Can I hike with a friend?
There is nothing quite like sharing the outdoors with someone special in your life, and we encourage you to use nature to foster relationships. If bringing a friend along will make it more likely for you to follow through with the challenge we urge you to take that step. HOWEVER… studies show that when you have another person on the trail, the effects just aren’t as drastic as hiking alone.
Some trails are better alone
Can I listen to a podcast or music?
Have you ever been standing in the shower letting your mind wander, and suddenly a brilliant idea pops into your head. This is your executive attention network taking hold and fostering the connections your mind wants to make. By using a device to stimulate your brain you are hijacking your attention and your brain will be unable to take advantage of the ideal circumstances for creative thought, therefore stifling your WILD ideas.
K - Keep it off
Can I walk in my neighborhood?
While it would definitely be more ideal for you to be in a forest, on a foothill, or in a mountain, studies show that your brain operates better when your brain is viewing natural colors. The blue sky, the green trees, bushes, and grass, brown trails, bark, and plants all count. If your neighborhood has a more scenic walkway nearby that would be more advantageous, but just getting outside and creating that bilateral stimulation, in movement, is better than sitting at your desk!
Absolutely.
What happens if I miss a day?
Everyone ventures off the trail now and again, what’s important is getting back on it. Just because you miss a day doesn’t mean you lost, it just means you have been given another opportunity to show yourself that you have control over your life. Don’t let the shame of defeat one day stop you from achieving triumphant success the next. This may be a 31 day challenge, but the challenge is deciding each day, that past failures will not stop your future success.
There is always tomorrow
How will I know how many steps I did?
We are obsessed with counting things: steps, miles, elevation, minutes logged. This experience is to shift your mind. Just because you can’t track em, doesn’t mean you didn’t take em. If it’s that important to you, feel free to count in your head, or out loud! The squirrels will be impressed.
You won’t, and that’s ok
Can I HIKE with my Dog?
We love our four-legged friends, but know this: bringing your dog shifts the hike. Instead of opening space for clarity and breakthrough moments, your focus may turn to their pace, their needs, and their distractions to pee on a tree or chase a squirrel. If your dog helps you get outside, bring them along, but if you’re here for the inner work, the trail may call you to walk this one solo.
If that’s what it takes.
What is nature?
Nature is everything untouched by human hands: the forests, rivers, skies, and stones. It’s the original world we return to when we step outside of the noise. Think: green grass, tree lined streets, parks, ocean waves, brown hills, anything that wasn’t made by humans. Out there, nothing is manufactured, nothing is engineered, and you can begin to have your breakthrough ideas.
Anything not made by humans.
How do I remember the WILD ideas I unlock?
Breakthroughs can feel fleeting, like wind through the trees. To capture them, bring a notepad or field guide you can tuck into your pack. Write them down the moment they spark. These ideas are gifts from the trail, and they’re meant to come home with you, so who would you be to deny them?
Bring a trail notebook.
What if I don’t feel safe without my phone?
Your safety matters. Keep your phone with you if it brings peace of mind, tucked in your pack or pocket, but make sure to turn it off (or at least in airplane mode. The trail is a space to step away from alerts and distractions, so you can hear what your mind is really saying.
Keep your phone close, but nature closer.
If I see a Moose, do I avoid eye contact?
Yes. To a moose, direct eye contact can feel like a challenge, and challenges in the wild rarely end well. Stay calm, give the animal space, and let it move on its own path. Out in nature, respect is safety.
IT’s already too late.
Does it work if I ride my bike in nature?
It depends on the trail. If all your focus is on navigating rocks and roots, your mind won’t have the space to wander, and that limits breakthroughs. But on an easy path where your body moves with ease, your thoughts can drift freely. That rhythm still creates the bilateral stimulation that unlocks bold ideas.
It Depends.
Can I go with someone else and just not talk?
Ideally this practice is done alone without distractions. If you have to join another human being, try sharing the trail in silence and giving each other space. A little distance helps quiet the pull of another’s presence, so your mind can wander freely. The fewer distractions, the deeper the breakthroughs.
Sort of, on the rare occasion.
I have never hiked before, what should I take with me?
Keep it simple: bring a backpack with water, a snack, and a notebook to capture any breakthrough ideas that arrive on the trail. Depending on where you hike, pack bear spray or bug spray (if you’re into that sort of thing) for peace of mind. The essentials are light, just enough to keep you safe, nourished, and open to the experience.
Bear spray is not preventative.
