Ahhh, camping!
Fresh air, a chance to commune with nature and get away from the rat race of everyday life, and of course the delightful crackle of a campfire. While some folks love to “rough it” with nothing more than a well-stocked backpack and a simple tent, going camping in an RV provides all the benefits and none of the hassles.
You know that setting off for a weekend in the Great Outdoors is great for your spirit — but did you know that going camping can actually be good for your physical health, as well?
Read on to find out some of the specific health benefits that camping provides.
1. Decreased Stress
Just being able to leave your everyday life behind be a huge stress buster. For as long as you’re camping, you don’t have to think about emails that need to be returned, bills that must be paid, or that weird noise your car has suddenly started making.
When you return from your camping trip, it will be with a clear head, a calmer spirit, and a renewed energy.
2. Lessened Depression
Are you familiar with the term “rumination?”
Even if you have never heard of it, you have probably experienced it. It’s the cycle of negative self-talk and endless analysis of why things went wrong that you experience after a bad day or a traumatic event.
Rumination isn’t good for us, and too much of it can lead to depression. But guess what? Being out in nature can actually prevent excess rumination. In simpler terms, when you get out in the natural world, you get out of your head — and that’s good for your mental health.
3. Great Exercise
You’re surely well aware that regular exercise can help your heart health, reduce the risk of disease, and keep your joints limber. The evidence for the mood-boosting effects of even walking for exercise isn’t just anecdotal, however.
Sara Warber, M.D., associate professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, says that a little exercise goes a long way toward improved mental and emotional health, as well.
“…something as simple as joining an outdoor walking group may not only improve someone’s daily positive emotions but may also contribute a non-pharmacological approach to serious conditions like depression,” says Warber.
4. Vitamin D
They don’t call it the “sunshine vitamin” for nothing. Vitamin D does not occur in food sources, so sun or supplements are your only options for getting it. It’s the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays that create Vitamin D, and for best results, you will need to expose your skin to the sun when it’s highest in the sky.
No need to worry about burning; you get plenty of Vitamin D from sun exposure in about half the time it would take to develop a burn — so make sure to pack your sunscreen when you head to RV parks in Galveston and other sunny climes.
5. Better Sleep
Know how tired you feel after a day’s worth of fresh air? It’s not in your imagination. The great night’s sleep you get while camping is due in part to your increased activity level, but there’s more to it than that.
Being in nature actually recalibrates your circadian rhythm, also known as your sleep-wake cycle. Reduced use of devices that flood your brain with blue light is a factor, too.
Going Camping?
We hope this blog post has given you some interesting facts about the benefits of going camping. Remember to pack your sunscreen, walking shoes, bug spray, and of course the ingredients for s’mores. Most importantly, have fun!
