How does hiking make me a better programmer, artichitect and a better person?

François Dumaine
4 min readDec 22, 2020

You may have your head exploding. You have a thousand things to think about at the same time, and you may find yourself in mental chaos. 😊 Sometimes, by dint of having too much in mind, I can no longer know where or starts, the simple management of my priorities and trying to forget nothing takes me too much energy.

I’m pretty sure you’re vocalally what I mean.

I like to believe that when my mind is in this state, it is simply impossible to find complete solutions.

I will go even further, my productivity is also reduced. And besides, when I’m not at my best, I find this sometimes a little frustrating.

Note well, I do not seek performance at all costs, but it is very rewarding when that is in an optimal mental and physical state. Let the solutions come to you naturally. You feel like a hero. No? Hahaha!

I think we all want to be fully realized. Of course, there are many areas that are a long way. As a programmer or architect, you can’t always code a complex solution in a day. It is simply not possible.

Personally, I find great satisfaction when I have a sense of accomplishment. When I say that my things have progressed well.

So how do I do it? I really don’t think I’m an alien.

When my head is full, I empty it. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of meditation sitting on a cushion.

On the other hand, I love the outdoors. Nature has so much to teach us. She is infinitelypatient. If only I could inherit a little bit every time I go hiking. Maybe I’ll end up turning into a Buddhist monk. Who knows?

Hiking has often been the key to many problems for me.

When I can’t find a solution?

When I lack creativity?

When I have to make big changes and have to evaluate all the options?

So, that I feel lost, and I don’t vote the way to go?

When, I feel like I’m not as focused anymore.

I could go on like this for a long time. I couldn’t tell you everything that the outdoors and especially hiking has brought me in my life.

I am very grateful for all that she has brought me, and what she contains to bring me every day.

I could say that hiking saved my life in a way.

While I was 30 years old, I went to do a physical test, and the test to reveal that my body was 69 years old.

It was quite a shock. That year, I looked for myself. I’ve experienced so much failure in all his tryings (fitness room, various sports, sports group, etc.)

And at one point, friends asked me what I liked to do when I was little. I remembered that I loved hiking, going for a walk in the forest, doing BMX on trails. In the winter, I was also going to glide in the mountains.

I started there. I started going hiking. I felt good. He had no pressure. I could go at my own pace. I could stop if I needed it or I could push myself if I wanted to do more.

That year I climbed this mountain 70 times near my home.

I’m going step by step, step by step. After 1 year, I went to do the physical test again and my body was returned to a 41-year-old man. I felt much better. I had a lot more energy.

That’s when I discovered the full effect of hiking on my mind in addition to the benefits on my body.

After that, I continued to go hiking in different places.

I can clearly say that the outdoors makes me a better programmer, and architect.

How about you?

Do you have any ways to free your mind?

Life is too short to stay inside!

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