Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut and need some help to feel energized again? If the answer to these questions was ‘yes’, mountain biking might be just what you were looking for. Mountain biking is a great sport to feel grounded and present at the moment, but at the same time, you can feel completely free from the world and all of your worries. Not only is biking a great way to stay in shape and lose those extra pounds you’ve put on during this holiday season, but it can do wonders for your mental health too.
Get those good vibes
When you chose to ride your bike outside, you are breathing fresh air, staying active, and getting that much-needed vitamin D into your system. When you’re riding in a forest or over hills, you will feel like you’ve spent time meditating. There is even an expression “forest bathing” – you feel like someone has pressed a button and made your mind clear and filled with positivity and calm when you’re surrounded by trees. You will feel like you’re finally able to reconnect with nature after spending a long time in your house, commuting, or simply being in front of a TV or a laptop. What is more, by focusing on your bike and your technique, you will temporarily shut off the rest of the world, and your mind will likely be grateful for the break.
A healthier heart
A fact that both astonishes and saddens me is that almost half of all Americans suffer from some form of heart disease. What makes these numbers even scarier is that many aren’t even aware that they have a problem, since heart conditions can take a while to manifest and diagnose. This is because a lot of adults have unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, and a bad diet. The good news is that mountain biking can do a lot in helping you lower the chances of developing heart problems. In addition to this, it can also have severe positive impacts on one’s mental health. Moderate cycling every day (or at least a couple of times a week) decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the more you cycle, the healthier you’ll be.
Self-confidence boost
When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and did something that made you proud of yourself? While it might not seem obvious at first, mountain biking can give your self-confidence a boost to the likes of which you haven’t felt in a very long time. There will be trails that seem too difficult at first, and you might even take a few tries to make it. Still, even if it seems impossible in the beginning, you will manage to overcome them. No matter how steep the trail is and no matter how much dirt and mud there are, you and your faithful gravel bike will be able to make it, and once you do, you will feel the rush of adrenaline and the swell of pride at your own abilities and determination.
A more positive outlook on life
Riding a bike had a great effect on a person’s mental health for several reasons. We already mentioned that your self-confidence will get a boost and that you will feel much calmer, but did you know that you can become a more positive person too? If you feel like you’re losing battles in other areas of your life, overcoming a difficult trail, losing extra weight, and getting faster on climbs will show you that things aren’t as bad as they might seem at first. In addition to this, when you learn to fix minor bike issues on your own, when you put effort into building a new biking trail or maintaining an old one, your self-worth will get another boost too.
Better sleep
You might think that, when you’re done with your workout, your body just crashes and you fall asleep, but it’s not that simple. Your body stays active and keeps burning calories even after your ride, and when you come home, shower, and take a quick nap, you will wake up feeling energized and ready to tackle more challenges. Furthermore, after long rides and general exhaustion, your sleep at night will improve significantly. Physical activity will have you sleeping better in more than one way: you will spend more time in deep sleep, meaning that your mind and body both will get more rest. While you’re active, your body temperature rises and you feel quite hot, but when the cool-down period starts, your body will recognize this lower temperature as the pre-sleep state. So, feeling tired and cool, your nap or your night’s sleep will be much better.
Meet more people
There are people who prefer riding their bikes alone and in quiet, but if you’re looking for like-minded individuals to expand your social circle, bike riding groups might be just what you need. The social side of bike riding can have a hugely positive effect on your mental health as well. Riding together will give you so many different things to talk about: not just the challenges of the trail, but sharing tips on how to improve your routine too. Sharing a trail with someone will give you an instant common ground to connect, and when you struggle to overcome obstacles together, you are more likely to become good friends too. If you’re shy or a more private person, this works for you too because you don’t have to share other aspects of your life with others – bike talk will be more than enough to maintain a positive conversation.
Getting out of the house and being physically active are great ways to improve your mental health when you’re feeling down, but actually getting to it can be a challenge. This is especially the case if you have been stuck in your home for a very long time. However, once you get going and start seeing the first results, you are going to start feeling much better and feel like you have more energy. Mountain biking is easy to start and you will notice the benefits very quickly, not only to your physical but your mental health too.
