People strike out into the woods for different reasons. There are those that do it to get away from the bustle of the city, some folks seek a weekend retreat with friends and others because they grew up with the family tradition of camping. The activity is as old as the human race with roots reaching back to our origins as nomads. The skills involved have been passed on from generation to generation, be it for survival or entertainment. Whether it’s your daily way of life or just a weekend excursion; the basics are the same and these are water, shelter, fire and food. Perhaps you won’t be having any fires on your trip but you still prepare to be without it and pack accordingly. Obtaining these baselines in the outdoors can be a challenge but once the route is down, one can live in comfort and appreciation of their surrounding.
There are a plethora of benefits from spending time outdoors. The exercise of just setting up is enough of a boost for most people without throwing hiking into the mix. The fact that camping takes place in spots where a decent cell signal might not always be possible, means you’re forced to seek interaction with your surrounds and the people in them. These are perfect times to foster strong connections with the people in your life. The physical activity and socialization aren’t the only things to improve with the outdoors; your immune system gets a boost from the expose to a variety of bacteria and organic compounds dispersed in the air from plants. The Japanese actively practice something called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. It is the act of just being in nature, simply connecting to your surroundings through your senses. Spending time in natural areas can help prevent and treat diseases.
So whether you’re camping in your backyard, RV at the lake or going for a multiple day backpacking adventure. Plan accordingly to the circumstances and forget about your worries for awhile and focus on soaking up all the details through your sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. You don’t need research to feel the difference but if you want more reading on the subject, I recommend this piece of news from the University of East Anglia on spending time outdoors.
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