Why camping is good for you
No matter how you shake it, many of us are living through stressful times. Work stress. Home stress. Health stress. Maybe all the above? If you’ve found your stress levels escalating lately, maybe it’s time to escape into the great outdoors and take a camping trip.
Tiny living is good for the soul
Most of us aren’t minimalists and probably never will be, which means most of us own too much stuff and spend too much time taking care of it. Why not leave it all behind for a weekend of tiny living in a tent, cabin, or RV?
Embrace your inner Marie Kondo and only pack necessities and things that spark joy. Having less stuff to worry about means you can spend more time hiking, biking, fishing, and pursuing your bliss in the great outdoors.
Keeping an RV, tent, or cabin clean and tidy is also a snap because they’re such small spaces compared to our homes. When you strip life down to the essentials, we often experience a clarity of mind that’s hard to experience at home. A camping trip can be a time to relax and have fun, but it can also be a time to think deeper thoughts about our lives and reorganize our priorities.
An increasing body of scientific evidence suggests that many Americans suffer from nature-deficit disorder, which basically means we’re spending too much time indoors and too much time in front of our screens.
Camping combats nature-deficit disorder
What are the symptoms of nature-deficit disorder? Anxiety, obesity, lack of focus, and even depression. While one camping trip may not solve all our physical and mental woes, a consistent outdoor lifestyle might. And regular camping trips should be part of any consistent outdoor regimen.
But, if you have limited time off or don’t feel like trekking cross country, just keep it simple and camp close to home. Small adventures can have big rewards for our mental health.
You’ll be much more likely to spend time outdoors if there’s a gorgeous view right outside your doorstep. Many campgrounds also have options for hiking, biking, fishing and swimming just steps away from your site.
Heading out to the campground for a tent, cabin, or RV trip doesn’t have to be an exercise in survivalism if you don’t want it to be. But camping should inspire all of us to become more self-reliant. If you want to embrace your inner Bear Grylls, you can plan a backcountry camping trip. Or you can choose a private campground with a pool and a hot tub. It’s all up to you.
Camping builds self-reliance
Either way, setting up camp and preparing your own food over an open campfire can teach all of us to rely less on others and more on ourselves. Packing up at the end of a trip also requires a bit of sweat but putting in a little hard work makes you enjoy all the fun moments even more. If you’re traveling with kids, camping will also allow you to teach them lessons about stewardship and personal responsibility. These are lessons they can carry forward for the rest of their lives.
Camping allows us to be social or seek solitude
Camping is a great way to reconnect with family and friends far away from the distractions of the modern world. Spending evenings in conversation around the campfire can refresh your spirit and strengthen relationships with those you care about the most. But camping is also a great activity for those seeking solitude in a gorgeous natural setting.