The Introvert's Dream

A short musing on how journaling can play a role in outdoor pursuits

This past weekend, I went on a two-hour run on a popular trail not too far away from my apartment. With it being a rich fall Sunday around noon, the parking lot was full of cars and even a few horse trailers. People were warming up on their mountain bikes, stretching their calves before their run, and slinging daypacks on their backs all around me. But once I got on the trail away from the crowd, I settled into a groove in my little bubble. My own little world away from everyone. That’s why we go outside, right? To seek solitude and spend time by ourselves exploring or decompressing from off-trail life. The introvert’s dream.

I totally recognize that trail running, hiking, backpacking, or literally any outdoor activity can be enjoyed with others. That’s one of the main reasons why I love the trail. It can be anything we want. Solo, with a group, or with friends, there is a place on the trail for everyone. For me, the most common way I experience being on trails is when I am alone.

Mostly, this is from a practical standpoint because I often don’t have anyone to come with me the majority of the time. Secondly, I am a proud introvert and cherish time by myself to recharge from a long day of being around other people. Because I am alone on the trail, I don’t have anyone’s rules to follow but my own. Meaning, I can go as fast and as far as I choose. I can stop to drink or eat something anytime I want without feeling like I am holding up others. I can take breaks whenever and I can also choose how long I am outside instead of being at the mercy of someone else’s schedule.

Getting in the flow

While on the trail alone, it’s easy to fall into a flow state. Some may refer to the flow state as “being in the zone” or being on a “runner’s high.” In psychology, this concept is defined as being totally immersed in an activity. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, when in the flow state, you may experience different things like time speeding up or slowing down. You may feel effortlessness, a sense of being in control, or even a lack of self-conscious rumination. For me, I get this boost of creativity as well. The world around me is clear and I feel totally absorbed by the trail. I become the trail, the dirt, the trees, and the wind.

When this happens, I try to take these moments as an opportunity to reflect and write some thoughts down. This can look like pulling my phone out, going to the notes app, and furiously typing away. Sometimes I physically bring a little notebook with me; I do this more so when I am backpacking because feelings of isolation are higher and I think writing can help me process it. Some may be reading this and thinking, “Whoa, I’d never stop running/hiking to sit and journal. You’d lose too much time.”

This is true. It does take time and can disrupt your pace/time goals if you stop for a few moments. However, as someone who likes to write and wants to make use of the inspiration, stopping to write is extremely valuable. Studies already show that unstructured movement can help aid in creativity. Getting outside in nature also has been proven to help people generate new ideas or think about things in a different way. So, combining the natural world with playful exercise like hiking or running seems like a pretty good way to gain more insight.

Journaling and writing can help your hike

Since starting therapy in my late teenage years, journaling has always been recommended as a way to process emotions and explore deeper parts of myself that I normally keep bottled up. Over time, I think it has also helped document progress and growth as well as. Even though I don’t have a rigid journaling practice established, having the option to write down my thoughts or expand on different concepts when needed has definitely been helpful for me throughout my mental health journey.

Extending this coping skill to utilize when I go on hikes and runs I know has benefited me. Sometimes it’s mainly word vomit, sometimes it’s answering a prompt to help with grounding, and sometimes it looks like playing around with words or creating silly poems. The beauty of it is that there is no right or wrong way to journal.

Next time you go out for a walk in the park or hit your local trail, I encourage you to jot some thoughts down and get to know yourself a little better. Either in an actual notepad or on a device; both work just fine. Before, during, or after the hike is also okay, but during the hike is *chef’s kiss.* I also provided a few journal prompts below if you need a place to start.

Sample journal prompts

1. What emotion(s) are you feeling at this moment? How do your surroundings impact them?

2. What is your favorite memory of being outside in nature?

3. Describe your perfect trail experience.

4. What do you hear around you? (both nature-related and/or human-related)

5. Reflect on your hike thus far. What outdoor-oriented goals do you have for this hike? How does what you accomplish on the trail today translate to the future?

Thanks for tuning in this week! See you all out on the trail!