Modern life as we know it is full of the Internet, social media, work, lawsuits, cell phones, pressures, and deadlines. This has an impact on our bodies by causing it to produce extra adrenaline to deal with everything. This is called the fight or flight response, and it’s when adrenaline tells every cell in your body to brace and prepare for whatever worries you or is stressed. Having this reaction is nothing new and the body is built to deal with it, however, what is not good is not taking a break to recover.
There are four things we can all do to help our systems recover and be ready for the next challenge, and unsurprisingly, camping provides a path for all of them.
To be outside
When we go camping, we spend most, if not all, of our time outdoors. Mentally focusing on all the things that make you feel good on the outside can do wonders for your mind and soul. Life comes to a halt and stress levels drop, making this a great time for your body to take a break.
The feeling of simple accomplishment is also very rewarding. Like pitching a tent, pitching the caravan or caravan and making a home away from home. This responds to one of our basic needs to create a shelter. Then if we light a fire, cook our food with minimal tools, and sleep and wake up with nature, we get into the rhythm of nature and basic survival, thus fueling our natural instincts.
When we go camping, we also love the process of simplifying, subtracting, and shedding our normal, messy, hectic everyday life. This gives us more opportunities to really get in touch with nature, find some solitude and time to disconnect and just breathe. This space and clarity allows us to really see everything in nature’s playground, hear him speak, and remember how amazing everything is. This, in turn, helps us put everything else in perspective. Being outdoors in the open air also seems to heighten our senses, which can bring more rewards. Food tastes better, the air smells cleaner, and birds and nature sound louder.
Exercise and movement
When we go camping we have more opportunities to get involved in hiking, surfing, fishing, playing with the kids on the beach, and just doing what we enjoy. Exercising and moving around is simply one of the best ways to combat an overworked body, mind, and soul in an overly committed lifestyle. Engaging in exercises and movements that also focus on breathing can also be very beneficial. Tai Chi and yoga are great for de-stressing a bit at camp and encouraging your body to rest and repair itself. This is the way you need to be to heal yourself, effectively burn body fat, and regain perspective on the important things in life.
Eat well
We get a lot of nutrients from the sun when we spend a lot of time outdoors, but we must also supplement them by enjoying nutrient-dense foods. This is all the more reason to enjoy camp drilling. Your food is freshly picked, has no preservatives, and if you choose your pickup location well, there will be no contamination either. There are many books and iPhone apps to help you find and identify the right plants and berries, and it’s fun for the whole family to get involved. One book we love is Food For Free by Richard Mabey, but there are plenty of food search books to choose from. As for the apps, this is a great beginner’s guide to finding wild foods in the UK and for those readers in the US, this app has had rave reviews as well.
To sleep
This is the other time we went into rest and repair mode … when we sleep. It’s a simple thing, but restful sleep is crucial for us to function properly. Take a break from stimulating activities starting at 9:00 p.m. M. Hereafter can help and as the act of camping naturally does, especially if you have kids in the tent, then it’s the perfect way to get in the mood for sleep. Added to the fact that you’ve been outside all day exercising and exercising, chances are you sleep really well and wake up naturally to the sounds of birds.