Modern life is loud, and with all the notifications and endless scrolling, our dopamine regulation can become abused.
More and more people are grasping for ways to quieten this noise because they’re starting to notice they cannot make it through a book, or even a film, without getting bored.
The antidote? Walking.
We can try as hard as we like to not look at our phones, but it’s a test of will. One of the many benefits of walking the Camino de Santiago, or other such trips, is that it removes the option from you and chucks into the deep end of a multi-day cleanse.
Why walking long distances calms the mind
Walking, especially in green areas, is proven to stop your brain stops racing. It’s the repetitive motion mostly, but also the gentle observations we notice like birds, as well as the fresh air and sunlight.
The US National Library of Medicine found that exposure to nature brings down cortisol (stress) beyond the hormone’s natural daily decline.
The biggest effect is within the first 20 to 30 minutes, so imagine that effect compounded over a few days, and when it’s a meaningful experience (e.g., a long trail with a certificate!)
Disconnecting from daily life on the trail
During the trip, you no longer have to-do lists, there’s no point in checking your emails, and you begin to stop caring what social media influencers are posting. There’s less craving to distract yourself once you’ve broken out of your monotonous indoor routine.
Pilgrims often describe a strange sense of clarity that comes around day two or three. The initial restlessness wears off and your mind calms.
Another way to calm your mind is to book the trip through an agency like Santiago Ways, because they will give you the route, show you the directions, and sort out your accommodation.
All that’s left is for you to put one foot in front of the other.
The social side of the Camino and its emotional benefits
The loneliness epidemic has reached new heights. It’s ironic, really, that the Camino de Santiago has become a place for others to make friends. While some pilgrims will have walked in solitude, it’s also about shared experience and helping each other out. Sharing stories. Sharing meals.
There’s evidence for the relationship side too. A study even found that walking the Camino together had a positive impact on relationships as it helped strengthen bonds. It shows that mutual connection between companions improves when given the space to breathe.
Why the Sarria to Santiago stretch is a gentle starting point
Not everyone needs weeks on the trail. Just a long weekend can do a lot. But if you want to earn a certificate, you need to complete 100km.
The final stretch from Sarria to Santiago is exactly that, making it one of the gentlest ways to complete the trail.
It has short daily distances and great signage, too. The route from Sarria is one of the best entry points into a trip like this.