In the wake of the pandemic, camping rose to popularity all around the world. Come to think of it; it makes perfect sense. It is the perfect way to step away from the rest of the world (read: crowd), enjoy your solitude, and participate in various outdoor activities, such as hiking, bike-riding, or hunting. It was a complete package for anyone who wanted to do something exciting and refreshing amidst the restrictions of the lockdown.
However, even as other leisure activities are springing back into action with the slow fade of the pandemic, the buzz around camping remains the same. In fact, a record 57 million U.S. and Canadian households went on at least one camping trip in 2021.
Therefore, there is no doubt that there are some serious benefits of camping that has led to so many people taking off into the wilderness in one of the most collectively stressful time the world has experienced in this century.
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Does Camping Affect Our Mental Health
Most people are aware of the fitness benefits of camping. The physical exertion you experience while hiking, setting up the tent, hunting, fishing, and exploring nature count as great exercise, and you will come back stronger and fitter from the trip.
However, the benefits of camping don’t end there. In fact, the physical benefits may just be the beginning, as the mental health benefits are even more significant. Read on to find out how camping affects your mental health.
● Reduced Levels of Stress
It has been proven that spending time in greenery can be a strong antidote to stress. And there’s no doubt that camping would provide a heavy dose of it. The stimuli of the natural environment – trees, mountains, rivers, streams, lakes, flowers – have a much more pleasant effect on the human mind as compared to the built metropolitan environments.
As a result, when a person spends a good amount of time in nature, they experience lower cortisol levels. Additionally, it regulates the flight-or-flight feeling that most people experience on a consistent basis. Nature allows us to feel more comfortable in our surroundings, which leads to less stress even after you’re back from the trip. This is also one of the reasons more and more people are considering living off the grid nowadays.
● Improves Attention Span and Creativity
One of the major disadvantages of modern lifestyles is that the collective attention span of the entire population has seen a drastic drop in the past few years. Research shows that our attention span has dropped from 12 seconds to 8 seconds between the years 2000 and 2015. This may not seem a lot at first glance, but it adds up pretty quickly.
The reason for this ever-shortening attention span is the information overload we’re exposed to, which can take a toll on our focus and concentration. When we’re out in nature, we are – to an extent – forced to unplug our technological devices and spend time with ourselves and our thoughts. The stimuli found in nature further enable the thoughts and ideas to flow freely.
At the same time, not being mentally stimulated at all can have isn’t ideal either, as boredom can feel unpleasant and isn’t restorative. Nature provides just the right amount of stimuli to keep you interested without providing an information overload. Hence, your thoughts flow more freely and encourage creativity.
● Resets Your Body’s Natural Clock
Did you know that people used to sleep up to ten hours on a regular basis up until 1879? It has also been discovered recently that this is the optimal amount of sleep one needs to remain at the best performance throughout the day. So what changed in 1879? Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. Since there weren’t many artificial sources of light available back then, most people would go to sleep according to the sun’s schedule.
It may not be possible to achieve that kind of sleep schedule in our modern lifestyles. However, unplugging from technological devices for even a few days can regulate your body’s natural clock. You will have no option but to wake up early morning and go to sleep at a reasonable hour to truly enjoy your experience. When you return from the trip, chances are that your body will be inclined to follow the natural sleep schedule, which may improve other aspects of your life.
● Less Screen Time is Good For Mental Health
We’ve already discussed how unplugging your technological devices can be beneficial for you. However, keeping your phone aside for a few days is even more beneficial for your mental health. More and more studies are proving that increased screen time can disrupt your sleep, affect cognitive development, cause brain fog, lead to depression and anxiety, and a number of other mental health issues.
Additionally, constantly being exposed to the perfect lives of others on social media can make you feel less content with your own life and affect your self-esteem. Camping enables you to keep your phones asides and connect with the real world around you. As a result, you find yourself in a better mental state.
● Provides Autonomy
Having freedom and autonomy over our lives is a basic human need. We crave the power to do things according to our own wishes. However, modern lifestyles take a large amount of this autonomy away from us. You need to wake up at a certain time, do a certain job, and build your life around a certain schedule if you want to afford a good lifestyle. While this may save you from going homeless, it may not be great for your mental health.
A camping trip provides the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button and pull yourself away from the stresses of your daily life. You can sleep under the stars, wake up on your own accord, do whatever you want, and seek unlimited adventures out in the wild. There really isn’t a downside to it; aside from maybe the wild animals that you need to be careful about.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of mental health benefits of camping. So if you’ve been putting off that camping trip for a while, take this as a sign to take the leap. Whether you go in a group or by yourself, you will see a positive change in yourself by the time you come back.