Camping and Brain Health
Early last year, lying in a hospital bed, I mourned, “We didn’t get to go camping together.” Things looked bleak, and my husband asked if I had any life regrets. I don’t recall a word of this conversation, so I was as surprised as anyone to hear that NOT CAMPING was on my list of life disappointments! But maybe my subconscious was on to something…
It’s as if my brain knew, even as it was surrounded by expensive high-tech medical equipment, that it longed for something much simpler: The great outdoors!
After leaving the hospital, we bought a tent and made camping a regular part of our lives. I have to say - it has been a wonderful healing experience! The simple act of pitching a tent and spending a weekend out in nature is loaded with activities that are great for brain health. Here are a few of my favorite brain-healthy reasons to camp:
Let Nature Be Your Doctor. Don’t take this TOO literally of course, but many studies confirm that time in nature is extremely healthy and restorative. Nature’s colors and sounds relieve stress and quickly improve mental health. Just being outside is good for your brain!
Unplug Instantly. Get away from electronic distractions. We don’t generally notice, but our brains are often overwhelmed with stimuli, morning to night, day after day, week after week. Camping lets our bodies rest from the invisible electronic stresses that surround us.
Soak in Sunlight. Most of us spend a lot of hours indoors, but sunlight-related health benefits to our brains are enormous. Don’t forget to enjoy the beauty of early morning sunrises and evening sunsets; our brains feed on nature’s beauty!
Get Grounded. There have been whole books written on the health benefits of grounding (also called Earthing). In the same way static can build up, our bodies collect positively charged electrical particles which lead to all sorts of health problems. The simple solution? Grounding. Get your bare feet on the ground! Camping makes this easy.
Sleep Deeply. Natural darkness, away from city lights and electronic devices, leads to deeper rest. It is a well-known fact that solid sleep is critical for mental health.
Good Brain Food. What and how you eat seriously impacts your brain and mental health. Campfire-cooked food tends to be less processed, more nourishing, and slower-paced than rushed fast food dinners.
It’s almost impossible to avoid the many stresses attacking our brains from every angle during the course of a normal day. But camping can be a memorable, fun, relatively cheap way to give your brain a break and let it have some time to relax and recuperate!
Challenges/Points:
Sometimes deep down, we know what is good for us, but the busy-ness of life covers it up.
Camping has many health benefits including time in nature, unplugging from distractions, exercise, sunlight, and grounding.
If you’ve never camped, mini “camping” day trips can also be a great option!
Questions:
Have you had a chance to camp? Was it a positive or negative experience?
Is it difficult for you to find time and ways to fit nature into your life?
Camping isn’t always an option; what are some other ways to get the same sort of benefits?
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