Imagine the only sound you hear is the toads and frogs singing their first song of the year as you are camping. The warm end of spring evening breeze caresses your face, as it beckons to a far-off place. You sit back and see birds rushing to get home before the last of the light is gone. The sun slowly dips below the horizon, dipping its toe into the lake to see how cold it is, before it sinks into the dark, cool depths. Your campsite is the balm for your tired soul. The first cracks and hums its little melody. And together, everything melts into your soul like morning dew into the earth-soft, unseen, but deeply felt.
Disconnecting From Reality
There are more than health benefits to unplugging and getting lost for a while. Experts at the University of Utah have outlined a straightforward piece on the physical benefits of camping. Christina Pay, Extension Assistant Professor, outlined a compelling article. The one bit that caught my eye was.
“Outdoor physical activity has been linked to decreased depressive thoughts, and sleeping under the stars can help promote our natural circadian rhythm, which is a foundation for high-quality sleep and health (National Park Service, 2019).”
We tend to pass off reasons why we’re out of sync, as tho it’s common. That taco didn’t settle right, my sleep schedule isn’t working, or my favorite, I need to drink more coffee. Well, those might all be right in a sense, but taking a deeper look at the root cause is more significant. Our internal rhythm is in chaos.
Unplugging from our phones, social media, and grabbing some much-needed fresh air, and grounding ourselves is a great way to stop our internal struggle and get back to our natural state. We forget that the internet has been around for around 58 years (give or take). So this fast pace, everything there at the click of a button, has detected our natural internal rhythm.
What’s The Next Step For Unplugging?
Like many of us, when we need to step away, it’s more than just our thoughts. The fantastic team at KOA has outlined the best ways to unplug and enjoy your camping trip. They are an amazing team that shares their love of the outdoors. Here are the ones that stood out to me!
- Hiking; if you’ve never gotten lost in the woods, you are truly missing an amazing, soulful journey that will take you further than any trail. The sites you’ll see are invigorating.
- Kayaking; I am a lover of catching the ripples and enjoying listening to the life pulsing around the waterways.
- Morning yoga; a lot of KOAs give out a list of activities for each camping day so many fun things. But for the yoga gurus, this is such a fun activity to join in. Sunrise yoga with the morning dew is spiritual.
We all need to step away from our phones, offices, computers, and even our four walls. We need to let go of the day-to-day hustle. Ground ourselves by waking up with the birds and take along a book or even just sit under a tree and breathe in the silence.
Every Season is Camping Season
We all think that camping is a spring-fall season, right? Wrong! Just because it’s a little cold or snow is on the ground doesn’t mean the adventure and the backpacks get stored and the campfires are put out until it’s a little warmer.
Winter is just as beautiful as summer for camping. Of course, it comes with its obstacles and accessories. Winter comes with its toys: skis, snowmobiles, and insulated socks! Katrina Bloemsma over at REI breaks down how to get a start on a snow adventure in the wild! The tips and tricks are things you should never gloss over. Even though winter is beautiful, it can be just as dangerous as anything; it’s the wild, so take the right precautions when you attempt to hang with Mother Nature.
The feeling of a winter wonderland is overwhelming. The serenity that engulfs you is like a dream. The calm and stillness, with a far-off cry from the Dark-eyed Junco bird. Calling you, beckoning you to explore the vastness of the silence stretched before you. To find the hidden gem that has long gone unexplored by others. So calm your soul and turn down the volume that presses in on all of us. There is a reverence that is in the winter night. Sitting by the fire, with the balm of getting lost from the ever-impending thoughts that hit us during the hustle and bustle of life.
There is a religion to camping, it’s one of freedom in finding where our soul cries out to be struck by Mother Nature’s beauty and the infinity of what we can find by exploring what others tend to overlook. Outside of almost every major city in America, you can drive to a hiking trail, and there’s usually a camping spot. As little as 30 miles outside of New York, and the same goes for Los Angeles! You are never too far out to find and revel in Mother Nature.
Where to Begin: The Hard Part
So you are on board to take that first step and get out and be in nature! That is the first hard obstacle! If you rarely drive to the middle of nowhere and grab a hiking trail, that’s where I would start! Camping is the next step! You have to be comfortable with being away from the noise, the go mindset! Take a chair with you, a journal, and write down what you are feeling while you are in the woods. Grab a seat on a rock and meditate! Look at the rocks in the streams and breathe in that beautiful air.
Researching your needs for your area for camping! Talk to an expert on gear and what you need to invest in! Are you a glamper, a camper, a tent person, or are you a person who needs a cottage to be able to have running water at your fingertips? Well, these are all the right thoughts to have!
Having a sanctuary outside of the cities we live in and away from the news and the stress of life is a much-needed distance. We tend to get so wrapped up that we forget that by getting back to nature, we can reduce our stress and, mainly, our cortisol levels. Taking a positive step towards connecting with ourselves, and yes, our ancestors, we are moving in the right direction.
Just Get Lost In It All
There are many benefits to unplugging and camping, whether in a tent, a camper, or your little renovated van. Is it for everyone? No, but you can still enjoy the activities around it. All ages can snuggle up and explore the world around us. I hope you all hit the campgrounds this summer and find what you are missing.
