With Thanksgiving break around the corner and finals on the horizon, it’s important now more than ever to care about your mental health and general well-being—and nothing is more conducive to keeping a clear head and being on top of your own happiness than spending time outside with others.

Too often I hear on this campus,“I’m not an outdoorsy person” or “Going outside is just too much work.” To a certain extent, there is some validity in these points. Setting out for weekend trips requires solid preparation, and getting outside often pushes you out of your comfort zone; but this only adds to the experience.

Getting outside allows for you to connect with others and self-reflect in ways that nothing else can. When you are in the midst of trees and dozens of miles away from the nearest landline or computer, you are given the opportunity to simply think—about yourself, your goals, and your time with friends. Within the bubble that the University can be, there is nothing more valuable than this.

Do yourself a favor and get outside. The time and effort you spend doing so will be well worth it, both in terms of the experience you’ll have and the way you will feel afterwards.

If you need help figuring out what exactly to do outside, send an email to [email protected], and the University’s Outdoor Education & Leadership Program will be more than happy to help. If you’d rather go your own route and explore some of the popular trails nearby, try R. B. Winter State Park, Ricketts Glen State Park, Bald Eagle State Park, or Loyalsock State Forest.

While it may seem tedious at first, getting outside is a surefire way to make the most out of your college experience and become well-grounded for the stressful weeks to come.