A Dean’s list graduate of Wayne State University, Jimmy Marwan Kassis obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the school and now serves as an EMT-B at Beaumont EMS. When he isn’t providing immediate, life-saving care to critically ill or injured patients, Jimmy Marwan Kassis enjoys hobbies such as weightlifting and hiking.
Hiking is a great low-impact exercise that has obvious physical benefits, but it can also be beneficial to one’s mental health. There’s a notion that hiking helps clear the mind and researchers recently confirmed this idea by comparing levels of rumination among study participants who walked in urban environments to those who hiked in nature. Participants in the latter group reported decreased levels of rumination and showed reduced neural activity in the part of the brain that is associated with mental illness.
Individuals with higher levels of rumination are more likely to focus on and over-analyze negative experiences and emotions, so lengthy walks in nature can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Beyond this, hiking can even boost one’s problem-solving capabilities.
Another study, conducted by David L. Strayer and Ruth Ann Atchley, found that those who abstained from technology during four days of hiking showed increased performance on tasks that involved complex problems. This is owed to the idea that technology and noise pollution in larger urban areas distract individuals from focusing, whereas hiking in nature can reduce mental fatigue and improve cognitive functions.
Jimmy Marwan Kassis 
