’Tis the season for discovering your path

Each November, most of us revel in turning back the clocks and gaining an extra hour of sleep. That joy, however, dissipates quickly Sunday evening when nightfall envelops us by 4:30. The end of daylight saving time launches four to five months of commuting home from work and picking up our kids from after-school activities in the dark, the end of barbecues under a blazing sunset, and other favorite outdoor evening activities. It also heralds the end of warm fall days and foliage, replaced by barren landscapes and the onset of seemingly endless grey, cold, stuck-indoors, snow-and-slush-muddled days. It’s no wonder that this time of year most, if not all, people feel some level of sadness or depression. Call it the winter doldrums, cabin fever blahs, or something more clinical such as Seasonal Affective Disorder. However you term it, depression, lethargy and moodiness tend to roar from November through early March. They impact all ages and walks of life, and they threaten to erode both our mental well-being and our physical health. 

One of the many things that makes Delaware great is that we have a natural – literally natural – remedy for all this. It comes in the form of a network of trails, pathways and scenic road corridors connecting Delawareans to hundreds of outdoor destinations and opportunities to explore the most iconic communities, people and places of our state. For example, here in Sussex County, the eight-mile Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail will someday link the two cities with a paved shared pedestrian and bicycle path, and it offers access to connections from Lewes to Rehoboth Beach and Cape Henlopen State Park. These networks provide residents and visitors alike with a scenic journey featuring gardens, wildlife, rural landscapes and more.

As a champion of this network, Delaware Greenways works to protect and expand this network, and ensure it remains safe and accessible for all people, all seasons of the year. Certainly, we pursue our mission in order to foster appreciation, pride and excitement among Delawareans and visitors for the rich historical, natural, cultural and recreational assets of our state. But we also do it to support the health and well-being of the people of Delaware.

Consider the season that lies ahead of us, and the possibilities of mild depression, SAD and similar challenges at our threshold. Then, consider the benefits of getting out and traveling Delaware’s natural network and exploring. These include:

• Physical wellness – Being outside supports an active, healthy lifestyle. This can mean a longer life, better sleep, and even benefits like reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, boosted immune function and lower blood pressure
• Mental wellness – Outdoor activities can also prove to be restorative and reduce depression. In addition, they can make you more resilient under psychological stress, and strengthen your decision-making, focus and attention
• Sunlight boost – Getting out any time of the year provides the body with important benefits of sunlight such as appropriate vitamin D levels, stronger bones, improved sleep and more
• Greater productivity – Research shows that people with depression tend to miss work or perform poorly. By supporting your physical and mental wellness in Delaware’s great outdoors, you can help minimize sick days and missed pay, and overall find more energy to achieve the things you set out to do
• Greater environmental consciousness – The more you experience nature, the more you are likely to appreciate the environment and support efforts to create a healthy, sustainable planet.

This time of year, even those barren landscapes – especially under the cover of a sparkling snowfall – have their own beauty and can be exhilarating and restorative. Throughout all three counties of Delaware exist opportunities for people of every age to explore and enjoy just how stunning our state is. Whether your taste is to stroll along a quiet nature trail, power walk or jog along through a state park, take a bike ride through historic sites, or travel by car along a road less traveled – alone, with a few friends, or as a family – Delaware has the right path for you to enjoy a “sunnier” winter, and pursue better health and wellness every season of the year. Delaware Greenways encourages Delawareans to start their discovery by using our trail library available at delawaregreenways.org.