Ah, the great outdoors. It is filled with fascinating creatures, stunning mountain ranges, and beautiful trees. There is so much to explore on this planet that we call Earth. With that, there are countless benefits of camping that you may be missing out on if you’re not hitting the road on a camping trip.
Following the pandemic, spending time outside doing activities, such as camping, has increased dramatically. Have you noticed a flood of city people traveling to the state and national parks near you? People are officially hooked on spending time outdoors through camping. Fortunately for us, camping outside in nature comes with many health benefits. Many would argue that there is nothing better for your soul than to go camping.
Today, we will discuss four profound health benefits that you can experience when camping.
Get moving and do some exercise.
Movement is key to staying healthy throughout your life. This has become a considerable challenge for many of us over the past few years. More and more people are working from home. What does this mean?
People sit for long periods – sometimes for +8 hours – without moving their legs, pointing their necks downward, and staring at a computer screen. Experienced chiropractors have their hands full, helping people with neck and back pain. The less you move your body throughout the day, the more likely it is that aches, pains, and injuries can occur.
Camping is a great way to get your body moving while enjoying the beautiful sites of nature. You can map out how much hiking you’d like involved in your camping trip, depending on how much exercise you want to do. Some people enjoy hiking to the area where they set up their tents. This requires more physical activity to reach the destination. Others prefer to car-camp. Regardless of your camping preference, you can still walk around nature and move your body while camping.
Take a break from technology.
Try to camp somewhere without great cell service if you want to challenge yourself. Of course, take the proper precautions and prepare adequately for this journey when deciding to do this. Camping without cell service or WIFI is a great way to be forced to take a break from your phone and computer.
Can you live without posting selfies for a few days? In all honesty, being forced to take a break from your phone has many health benefits. To start, it can help decrease stress and anxiety. Imagine sitting in the calm forest and not getting annoyed by email notifications all day? Humans are not meant to be using technology every waking moment of the day.
Aside from getting a break from work through camping, you can also limit stress in your life by reducing social media use. Society tends to pressure people – especially teenagers – through social media. It’s hard not to feel jealous or envious of someone living their best life on Instagram. By venturing on a relaxing camping trip, you can decrease the anxiety and stress that you’re experiencing from the overuse of technology.
Consider socializing (or not).
Certain people love camping with others. Socializing, especially after the pandemic, is extremely important to our mental health and well-being. There is no replacing human connection!
Camping is a fun bonding experience that you can share with friends and family members. Depending on the intensity of the camping excursion, it can often come with physical challenges. For example, if you need to set up camp quickly before the rain comes and build a fire, it can be a bonding experience with your fellow campers; a rush before the rain comes! You must work together as a cohesive unit to set up camp properly.
Of course, you’re not required to socialize while camping. Spending time in nature can also be highly therapeutic doing it by yourself.
Maybe your job and home life are hectic. In that case, spending time with only mother nature can do wonders for your mental health. People do some of their most incredible deep thinking while walking through nature alone. Determine what camping trip and company style is the best fit for your next journey.
Breathing in clean oxygen is one of the best benefits of camping.
Walking around in nature can feel like a godsend for our city folks. Breathing in clean oxygen is excellent for your brain and overall health. It’s truly one of the best benefits of camping in the great outdoors.
This is something that many of us don’t realize until we spend time in an area with clean oxygen. Going from the inner streets of Los Angeles to the hills of Lake Tahoe feels very different on your lungs. Breathing in clean oxygen consistently helps your cognitive function by keeping your brain working efficiently.
Breathing in clean air goes hand-in-hand with the exercise benefit of camping. The more that you walk around, the deeper your lungs will breathe. When your body feels good, emotions typically follow. Deep breaths of oxygen can help you destress from an intense work week. Many campers enjoy breathing exercises in areas with rich oxygen to capture these health benefits.
When is Your Next Camping Trip?
Camping outdoors has many health benefits and is one of the best ways to decrease stress. There are various camping styles that you can do (i.e., glamping), all based on your preference.
If you have never camped before, it’s ok to start slow. Try planning a camping trip with someone you know who is experienced with spending time outdoors. They can show you the ropes and chime in on the health benefits that they enjoy from camping outside.
