Let’s discover 7 Surprising Benefits Of Camping…
Camping trips are a great activity for both family and friends. Often it’s what we do when we feel like we need to “take a break” or “get away from it all.”
Personally I sometimes plan sudden camping trips when I feel like my family and I are overworked or stressed from our daily life. And the results are wondrous! We usually come back home refreshed and recharged.
From personal experience as well as a bit of reading, here is my list of the 7 surprising benefits of camping. I hadn’t really thought of these before, even as I definitely felt the positive effects camping has had on me and my family. Benefit #3 definitely surprised me!
7 Surprising Benefits Of Camping In A Nutshell
Benefit #1: More oxygen – Because there are less pollution and fresher air in campsites and countryside!
Benefit #2: More physical activity – There are more opportunities for physical activity!
Benefit #3: Better nutrient absorption – Being under the sun does more than give you a good tan!
Benefit #4: Sleep – Nature has a way of helping us fix our sleeping patterns!
Benefit #5: Unplug from the world – There won’t be any electrical sockets where you’re going, and that’s a good thing!
Benefit #6: Destress – In the middle of nature, everything is just so much simpler!
Benefit #7: Bonding with family and friends – What else are you going to do on a camping trip?
Benefit #1: More oxygen
If you’re used to an urban environment, then you’re used to air that is polluted and quite low on oxygen. But out in the countryside, away from busy streets and factories, the air is a lot cleaner and fresher. More importantly, the air has much more oxygen than you’re used to
Additional oxygen intake helps trigger the release of serotonin in our bodies. Serotonin is the “happy hormone,” which prevents depression and stabilizes our mood.
More oxygen also improves our brain function. Our brain uses up a lot of the oxygen we breathe in – up to 20%! The oxygen-rich air help enhance alertness and quick thinking.
Benefit #2: More physical activity
Between unloading your camping gear, pitching your tent, gathering wood for your small campfire, and setting up your supplies, you will be engaged in a LOT of physical activities. And that’s just from the time you arrive up to the time you’ve finally set up camp!
Physical activity helps you burn calories and gives you the chance to stretch your muscles, especially if you work on an office chair throughout the week.
There are many other physical activities you can do while camping, such as hiking, biking fishing, and even some exercise sessions. Be sure to plan out your activities so you can bring the necessary gear!
Benefit #3: Better nutrient absorption
This one surprised me when I discovered it. It turns out that being under the sun does more than give you a good tan!
Sunlight always feels great on your skin. That is no accident. Sunlight bombards your body with Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps you absorb more calcium and phosphorus for your bones and teeth. Vitamin D also boosts your immune system!
Of course, throughout your camping stay, you’ll be out in the sunlight while walking, resting, even eating. That entire time, your body is soaking up Vitamin D. Imagine: just by being in sunlight, you’re already reaping the rewards!
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Benefit #4: Sleep
One other benefit of sunlight is that it keeps our bodies from producing melatonin. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant hormone. Its key function is to help regulate our sleeping pattern.
Ordinarily, our bodies produce melatonin during the evening, after the sun sets, because exposure to light inhibits melatonin production. However, with modern technology, our bodies are exposed to artificial light even during the evening, and this interferes with our melatonin production cycle.
That is why a camping trip, far away from artificial light and relying only on the natural day and night cycles, can help us greatly in fixing any sleeping problems we might have such as insomnia.
On top of that, you’ll naturally be tired after a day of nearly non-stop physical activity. What better way to cap off your day at camp than by getting some quality, restful sleep?
Benefit #5: Eat Fresh
This benefit will require some advance planning, but is well worth it. Camping trips take us away from the usual conveniences of fast food and quick-fix meals (unless we bring them with us).
Light a fire and cook your meals over it for less fat and less oil in your dish. Some campsites allow fishing in nearby lakes or rivers. Take advantage of those for some of the freshest meals you’ll ever cook up!
Aside from these, fresh fruits and vegetables make for versatile camping food. They stay reasonably fresh throughout the trip and require very little additional preparation. Fruits can be eaten as-is, while vegetables can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, or even roasted over the campfire.
Benefit #6: Destress
Our daily lives are a constant source of pressure and stress. Even at home, we receive work emails with follow-ups for deadlines or pending work. Children have schoolwork to worry about. Even social media, which is supposed to connect us to each other in positive ways, can also be a source of stress and anxiety.
That is why a camping trip is such a welcome respite. The opportunity to just unplug from the rest of the world and focus on yourself and your family is uncommon by today’s routines. Camping trips offer such opportunity, along with so many other great benefits along with it.
To maximize this period of rest, I highly recommend switching off your gadgets – there’s a good chance your campsite can only make emergency calls anyway. Some campsites do offer WiFi access, but I sincerely advise against using it. It will be difficult to enjoy nature and your company if you are bringing your sources of stress and anxiety along with you.
Benefit #7: Bonding with family or friends
Camping trips are the absolute best time to bond with family or friends. There’s just so much to do.
There are many camping games to choose from that are fun and offer an opportunity to get to know your companions better.
You can take reasonable hikes to nearby locations for the sights.
If you camp near a lake or river, you can fish or even take a swim.
The best part is, any activity you can think of doing, you’ll be doing with family or friends. Getting to socialize with your companions while having fun activities helps to deepen your bonds.
Take That Trip
How did you like this article? I always look forward to camping trips with my family because these trips allow me to spend more uninterrupted time with them, away from things that demand our undivided attention such as work or school. As someone who loves the outdoors, I also look forward to getting a bit more sun each time. It doesn’t hurt that there are all these great benefits to camping too!
One thing I noticed, in hindsight, is that I sleep better during our camping trips, and my sleep is always more restful and energizing. It turns out that there’s a whole lot of science and nature working in the background, helping me fix up my body as I sleep!
What other benefits do you get from your camping trips? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and share the article ‘7 Surprising Benefits Of Camping’ if you enjoyed it!
Rita Myers
Rita Myers is an avid camper, hiker, wife and mother living in Juneau, Alaska, USA.
She blogs on her own site www.datingwithnature.com and enjoys sharing her experiences with others and encouraging as many women as possible to enjoy the beauty of nature and the pleasures of camping and hiking.
I love camping and being a woman camper I could relate so much to this post. Love and agree to all the benefits you share. Though I have not camped with my family I agree its helps to unplug from the world and bond more with family or friends
Do try to get out with your family, it’s a great way to bond! 🙂
I can’t agree with you more. The “fresh air”, de-stressing and eating fresh are on my camping list. The fresh air, clear blue skies, with only tree tops to view, and mountain streams to listen to…casting out a wet fly across the perfect spot in the stream, to reel in our supper for the evening and cook it over a blazing campfire..alright…now that perfect cup of tea to end an evening and to breathe that late evening breeze for a quiet uneventful night’s sleep.
Sounds absolutely perfect!
We live in Colorado where there is an abundance of campers and camp sites, but for some reason I cannot brave it enough to go camping. I’m so worried about bears and snakes! Ah!
You’ll be fine! Just be careful! hehe. You can start off by looking for places that are guaranteed to not have bears or snakes. Start small, then when you get comfortable, you can start to venture out!
I really enjoyed reading this post about camping. I’ll be honest, I am not a big camping person – I have always found it hard to sleep but I can imagine it is a great way to de-stress once you get used to sleeping outdoors!
Yes, it takes a bit of adjustment. But the quiet of nature is really the best way to de-stress, at least in my opinion!
Definitely agree with all of these! I love camping so much but haven’t been in ages. You’re right, it’s a great way to unplug and destress, which can be hard to do if we just try and relax at home!
Yeah, sometimes home isn’t always relaxing hehe. You should head out again soon!
Beautiful photos of Camping with all advantages of Camping. More Oxygen and Sleep is the most important part. Living in cities deprives of ourselves from natural things which our body requires most. For De-stressing and absorption of nutrients we really need Camping at regular intervals.
Very true, city living can get really toxic, which is why stepping out into nature is really the best therapy.
I think that having a “forced” detox while camping is so amazing. We’re able to better focus on our surroundings and it also forces us to communicate with others, person to person, instead of screen to screen. Every time I’ve gone camping I’ve come home with amazing bonds with the people I went with. Something about being out in nature equalizes everyone and you’re able to connect on deeper levels.
Right?! All the deep conversations come out and you really just get to know people on a whole new level. I’m glad you see it too!
As professionals we always face stressful situations in a very demanding environment. Taking a break like camping is truly important for us. It’s also a form of revitalizing our mental health. It’s for our mental health after all. If we keep on pushing ourselves even our mind is already giving up, it’s time to take a break and camping is one of the best solutions. 🙂
Agree 100%!
We love to camp. Up in the mountains or simply on our trampoline in the back yard. My kids just can not get enough of it.
That’s wonderful! Start them young!
I don’t think I have anything to add to that list, and I definitely agree. I don’t go on camping trips as much as I want to but I sure enjoy it. My favorite benefit would be unplugging from the rest of the world, I mean, it’s hard to do that when you’re in the city and I am kind of a social media dependent so when I get a chance to not have access to it, that’s the only time that I get to really destress and regroup.
Yes, what better way to unplug then to be in a place where you literally have to!
I definitely agree that camping can distress you. What’s more beautiful than waking up in the morning with the sound of birds chirping in the trees near you or the sound of the nearby river. I would love to make time to go camping this summer, at some point.
You must go! 🙂 Hehe
I have never gone camping as we do not have many (actually none) camping spots near home. However I have glamped in the Serengeti. It felt weird at first cause I have never stayed outdoors, but it felt good after that. We were all able to have an internet Detox and talk more to each other under the starry skies … and have a bbq too. I definitely want to try it again.
You should! Maybe when you get to travel to other places, there will be other camping spots that you can visit 🙂
I’ll be honest when I say, I’m not the happiest camper! After reading your post, I’ll definitely rethink about it. You’re so right about getting more oxygen and de-stressing. I think if you live in an urban environment, it’s important to get some real fresh air in your system.
Yes, it is. You can start off by taking a day trip and getting comfortable just being outside if you aren’t too happy about camping overnight just yet. Take it slow so you really get to enjoy 🙂
I have not done as much camping as I would really like. But it is really an exhilarating experience. The outdoors is such a mesmerizing place, that it is really a great experience. Gazing at the stars at night and waking up to the chirping of birds and looking at a sunrise while lying down, is always a great bonus of camping.
Very true 🙂 Nature is the best
I would definitely choose camping rather than stay in luxury hotels any day. And why not when camping with all good things like health, experience, solitude, fresh air and an escape from the mundane. IMO, there is no better way to bond with family or friends than to get away into the wild with no access to any network.
Camping is the best! 🙂
I love going camping and we go as often as we can in the summer. I don’t usually sleep much because I get cold easily, but my sleep quality is better. And all that nature makes up for a little discomfort:)
The quality of sleep does improve though, right? 🙂
To me camping always sounds like an ughhhh time. But once I’m out there omg… I always have the best time ever
Hahaha, isn’t that usually the case? 🙂
These sound good. I am not a camping person, but my husband and older 3 kids sure love it!
Well, at least you get some good old-fashioned family time! 🙂
I totally agree with all of this . I have a wonderful camp for women . http://abnb.me/EVmg/6k38o0eQRE
I truly love camping as well. I usually hike to the lush scenery green forest and stay over night in the mountain or sometimes two nights. I like all your points here. Aside from you truly have elucidated it well, it also transmit an amazing sense of understanding the real essence of camping. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Thank you so much for the kind words! 🙂
Awesome tips! I love where we live as there are always different trails we can go explore and get a workout at the same time. Plus it’s so much fun finding new places.
You’re lucky you live near trails! 🙂
Hmm, this shows why all women should definitely give camping a go someday. Some still seem terrified of bugs & animals though.
Hopefully soon more women will find out how great it is!
I totally agree with your points. Particularly about getting more oxygen, unplugging from the world and bonding more with family. Unfortunately there are not many camping options around where I live but it is definitely high on my bucket list
Aw, that’s too bad. But you really should put it way up there on your bucket list so you get some relaxation time!
Beautiful photos. We love camping as a family and I agree, its so healthy to get away, breath in the fresh air and destress.
Fresh air is the best way to de-stress!
Great list… #5 is definitely the best benefit!
Thank you!
I love going for walks in nature with my family. Getting outside just makes us all feel so much better!
Right? Right? 🙂