New year, new me is a phrase often repeated and associated with making happier and healthier decisions during the month of January that will hopefully become a lifestyle for the new year. Often, those new year’s resolutions include exercising more and eating better, but the decision to become a healthier person can seem expensive and difficult to accomplish.
Luckily for Texans, the Texas Parks and Wildlife organization takes care of many state parks and offers activities for goals just like becoming healthier. Here is a list of some of the activities offered in Texas state parks:
Cultivate a Healthier Body
- Walk
One of the best ways to improve your physical well-being is to take a walk. For beginners to experts, guided hikes and trails are available, including mobility-friendly trails. If a person has not exercised in a long time, walking can be a great first step toward making muscles remember what they used to be capable of. - Bike
Biking can help improve cardiovascular fitness, add muscle strength and flexibility, and decrease stress. Those who wish to begin biking can find a trail near them or join an upcoming biking event. Biking can be a great way to begin excercising again or to calm the mind. - Geocache
A Geocache is a specially designed and hidden “treasure” with a list of the names of those who have found it and an assortment of items that are there to be taken in exchange for another item being left. Many geocaches are hidden in Texas State Parks. Geocaches can be found using a GPS or smartphone and are a good way to challenge both the mind and the body.
Cultivate a Healthier Mind
- Enjoy Nature
Nature walks and wildlife viewing are great ways to boost understanding of the natural world and its amazing inhabitants. Exploring nature can decrease the amount of things the mind has to think about so that it can focuse on destressing, solving one problem at a time, etc. - Look Up
Enjoy the beauty of the night sky at a Texas State Park. Artificial light is very minimal at a state park, so the night sky is much more visible than in the city. A stargazing event is a perfect time to view the depth the night sky has to offer, but simply viewing it alone or with friends or family can also help soothe and inspire the mind.
Cultivate a Healthier Community
- Volunteer at a Park
Helping others is a wonderful way to help oneself. Texas State Parks have lots of volunteer opportunities for individuals to help Texas’ wild plants, animals, and places. - Be an Ambassador
Becoming a State Park Ambassador can encourage people to explore the outdoors and share in a person’s love of parks. One person can inspire friends, motivate communities, and spread the word that anyone can enjoy life outdoors.
