While some may be itching to jump on a plane and head to luxury hotels or all-inclusive resorts around the world post-lockdown, here at CampInn we’re looking forward to simpler pleasures. We’re dreaming of long summers spent outdoors reuniting with loved ones: den building and campfires; wandering to sleepy village shops and bars; pond dipping and lake swimming; hopping from one pitch to the next; living with nature, in the moment and taking things slow.
Unsurprisingly, we’re not alone. As COVID-19 lockdown is cautiously lifted (find out more details on our Q&A page, camping, caravanning and road-tripping are more popular than ever because they offer an affordable slice of change and adventure that’s guaranteed to recharge and refresh.
Here are just a few of the proven health benefits that will make you want to book a camping holiday this year:
Camping to unwind
A real break from routine often means doing nothing at all. Ditch the box-ticking, itineraries, screens, restaurants and sights, and instead go offline in the woods, pitch up in a pretty glade, or camp by a hidden wild swimming spot. Various studies have shown that camping makes people happy and healthy because it encourages us to shut down everything and be in the present moment. Sometimes, doing nothing together, with loved ones and friends, old and new, can be the most bonding experience of all. There’s room for spontaneity, and everyone has space and time to relax in their own way, whether reading a book in a hammock, hiking, swimming or watching birds and butterflies dance overhead.
“Roses are red, mud is brown, the woods are better than any night on the town.”
– Earl Dibbles Jr —
Camping to boost your sleep rhythm
A night in a tent can help to reset your body clock, and this can have a lasting impact on your sleeping patterns. A study from the University of Colorado recently revealed that we sleep better in the great outdoors. This is because there is less artificial light, which helps to reset biological sleeping rhythms. The study also found that sleep is improved while camping because we take a digital detox (sometimes enforced); digital light from phones, tablets and laptops can increase anxiety and make it harder to drift off. It’s another reason to switch everything off and embrace a good night’s slumber under canvas.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilised people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity.”
— John Muir —
Camping for a healthier mind and body
When you exercise, your body produces dopamine and endorphins, which make you feel happier and energised. The release triggers a virtuous circle because the more energised you feel, the more you’re likely to be active, and the more content you become. We get a similar chemical reaction from merely being outdoors — a few years ago, researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that just a few minutes in nature can reduce depressive symptoms. Both happen naturally while camping; we tend to move around a lot, and the experience revolves around fresh air.
“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson —
So, when it comes to seeking revitalisation, refuge and rest for the body, mind and soul, camping gives that little bit extra when you need it the most. There’s no time like the present, then, to take a look at CampInn’s collection of campsites for a summer of mental and physical post-lockdown healing.