Did you realize that there are so many health benefits from camping? Sure, it’s fun to get outside and camp, but camping is also beneficial for your mental health.
Last year we had planned a trip to a campsite outside of Merritt, BC for July which we knew was a risk. Campfire bans are usually in place, and fire season starts to pick up speed midway through the Summer season. But, if you’re a local here, you’re pretty much used to it and expect it.
That camping trip just happened to occur a couple of weeks after our flood. We were both going to really reap the benefits from camping on that trip! Our dog Brie also really reaps the benefits too. She turns into this super chill dog while camping, and then turns back into her crazy self once we’re back home.
How to reap the benefits from camping outdoors
If you’ve never gone camping before, you should go into it with an open mind. Camping isn’t a time for you to be all stressed out, rather where you release the stress.
You may find it helpful to go camping with someone who has gone before and has a system setup. To really make camping as easy as possible, you’ll want to prep your food in advance. I tend to come up with a plan for all the food a couple of weeks beforehand. That way we can make changes and finalize the meal plan before we go shopping.
Once we get all of the food shopped, then I get them all prepped. What I can freeze when made, gets frozen, and then the fresh stuff usually for the first night or two stays in the fridge. Snacks get put in containers and then it’s time to rock and roll.
Pack up the cooler with ice, then the frozen sealed food, with the fresh on top. All dry goods go in airtight containers because we live in bear territory. Obviously.
Health Benefits From Camping
- Sleep better
- Endless fresh air
- Outdoor cooking is better than regular cooking
- Unplug & disconnect
- Reduce stress levels
- Relationship building
- Increased physical activity
- Campfires rock
Sleeping Better
Sure, the sun rises early but you are getting so much fresh air that you sleep so well. This is one of my favourite things about camping overall. We bring regular pillows and a duvet (dedicated to camping) and even though we’re on a sleeping mat, I conk out every night.
An edible on occasion doesn’t help either 😉
Endless Fresh Air
Not only does all that fresh air help you sleep better, but that fresh air and vitamin D are so good for your mental health. You’re amongst the trees, likely a Lake or Ocean so all that oxygen from the trees and the calmness of the water is just *chefs kiss*
Outdoor Cooking Is Better
This is just a fact. If you’ve never been camping, it’s like BBQ’ing on steroids. Especially if you can cook over a campfire. Seriously, if we’re camping in Canada that’s a rarity just with how serious fire seasons are becoming, but when we can the food tastes better.
I’ll take camping cooking over home cooking any day. It’s March when i’m writing this, and I am now itching to go camping.
Unplug and Disconnect
Do you know what’s the best about being out in nature? There is no electricity (unless you’re going to charge in your car), so it’s so much easier to just put your phone away and soak up your time outside.
We always bring paddleboards with us so if we’re not playing games or reading at the campsite, you’ll find us out on the water with the dog trying to be on two paddleboards at one time.
Reduce Stress Levels
Parks Canada has launched an initiative where doctors can offer a parks pass to help alleviate anxiety & stress and help with your overall mental health. Spending time outside reduces your cortisol levels – that’s a fact.
Relationship Building
You’re spending time together, and oftentimes you’re working together throughout your trip. You’re also not connected
so you’re spending time talking, playing games, cooking together without that distraction.
This is a huge benefit of camping for me. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in work, that I am on my phone or computer well into the evenings at home. When I’m camping, I get to reconnect with my friends & family.
Increased Physical Activity
Setting up camp, walking the dog, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and paddleboarding; are all physical benefits of camping. Plus, you’re walking to and from the washrooms/outhouse so you know you’re still getting steps in 😉
Campfires Are The Best
There is something so bloody mesmerizing about a campfire glow in the darkness. And again, cooking over the campfire is so good, and if you’re having a fire then you’re likely set to make s’mores.
S’mores are the best and I will fight anyone that says otherwise 😉
Enjoy Camping!
If you’ve never been camping before, I implore you to try it out. Even just try a night in your backyard if you’re unsure about sleeping outdoors away from home. Try a camping trip close to home and as you get more and more comfortable, you can go for longer periods of time and further away.
If you have kids, they’ll love being outside. Plus, the fresh air tires them out 😉 I grew up going camping throughout my childhood, as travelling to international destinations was not something my parents were able to allot for.
Jason’s first camping trip was with me when we went camping in the Rockies. In August. Where it almost snowed. I am not joking. It was so cold, I was like “he’s never going to camp with me again” but it all worked out and we try to get out camping at least once per year.
I’m looking forward to taking the new car camping because we have more space now, and we’re finally putting on a roof rack. Our paddleboards take up a lot of space!
We tent, but you can also go in a camper. To me, I prefer tenting, but that’s just a personal preference.
Do you camp? What’s your favourite thing about going camping? Let me know below 🙂
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