Hike Your Way to a Better Life After Divorce

Although there are exceptions to prove the rule, most divorces take place after a fair amount of time has passed since the exchanging of the vows. On average, the length of the average marriage is around eight years in the United States (in the U.K. it is roughly 11 years). Then consider the physiological phenomenon known as the “marriage penalty”. Women are more likely to gain weight after getting married, whereas men typically experience their weight gain after getting divorced. So after your Arlington divorce lawyer finalizes your papers it’s time to get exercising.

Keep Walking

In either case, those who split up often find themselves in an unenviable position where being single again is concerned. It is commonplace for divorcees to immediately think of “hitting the gym”. But that means using up disposable income and discretionary time. After walking away from a marriage, the simplest (and cheapest) advice would be to just keep on walking… Or, rather, hiking.

One Foot in Front of the Other

The benefits of hiking extend far beyond the metaphorical value of putting one foot in front of the other. Whether you seek out a designated pathway or go a little deeper – and steeper – into nature, hiking provides important cardiovascular exercise, reducing the risks of heart attack or stroke. It increases muscle tone and strength in the upper and lower body as well as improving dexterity and balance. Hiking will also help stave off osteoporosis and other bone-density related ailments.

All of those things may seem ancillary compared to the most obvious rewards that hiking provides. All of the same physical benefits can be derived from the gym setting, but the experience of being in nature is something that a physical trainer cannot provide. This provides a great deal of serenity, and opportunity for reflection, to anyone bearing those emotional post-divorce bruises.

Tags: healthy living