Hopefully I'm starting this conversation in the correct section.
But I wanted to know about other peoples experience during travelling and camping and how its improved either their mental health and physical health. I worked a corporate job my entire life and its been intense, anxiety inducing and I've finally got away from it.
I've experienced how great travelling and hiking can be for mental clarity and how much more physically active you become. I know its not all flowers and roses especially solo camping. So just wanted to know what other people think and what their experiences are.
Welcome to our world, and that is what It's all about. No matter who you are or what you do, we are all in this together. So between Glamping or alone on the moors above the tree line, your choice.
As for how active, the more you enjoy it, the more you will do it. With the option to change to other forms of Camping / Caravaning as your lifestyle changes and you get older.
So you make of it what you will, no right way or wrong way and you follow your own course.
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Retiring from jobs that could be stressful and tiring, was in itself a great move and was very beneficial for both our physical and mental health.
We hate being unable to get out, so whether it's just for a local walk or off in our van, it really cheers us up. Lockdown restricted things a bit, but since we live in the country and have a biggish garden, we still managed to spend plenty of time outside.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
We are coming up to 79 this year, and still look forward to and enjoy our 4 or 5 trips away in our Pathfinder, hopefully this will continue for a few years yet. Our life style is somewhat different to most other folks in that we do not allow negative things to influence our lives namely tv and newspaper news items which we haven't watched or read for more years than I care to remember. Our lifestyle may also differ slightly in that we eat one meal a day only, between 4 and 6 pm. we have found over the years that this is perfectly adequate for our needs and keeps us in good health,without any medical intervention. Others will no doubt say they have been told this that or whatever ,for them to follow if they so wish, I am saying what works for us and has shown to be beneficial for us over an extended period of time.
Hi and welcome. Life can be very complicated and old work habits can be hard to break. Just being at home doesn't get you way from some of that. When camping, simplicity and a sense of space go a long way to clearing your mind, I think. Once pitched, your possessions are few and your choices limited (unless you want to eat out a lot or bring a kitchen sinksworth of convenient items!) and there is time to simply sit, read or walk, admire views, breathe in that fresh air and be aware of the hamster-brain slowing down and hopping off its wheel. My favourite site sits just above a wooded valley; waking on a spring morning in the early hours to the surround-sound of the dawn chorus certainly lifts the spirits. Camping can improve mental and physical wellbeing, definitely - but choose your weather well! Sitting alone in a tent in pouring rain sulking over a crossword is the other side of the coin...
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Behind my garden is a footpath and the village council thoughtfully provided a bench. On good days Mrs.L and I sometimes sit there and watch the world go by. Occasionally we see roe deer wondering through the fields.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Thanks so much everyone for the lovely replies. It's great to know that other people can relate and have gone on their own journey through the ups and downs.
I've found that working a busy job you always tell yourself that you don't have time for a long walk or a small trip to explore nature. But every single time you're better off for it physically and the very best ideas I've had have always come when you've created separation from day to day!
Thank you dimbles for sharing your lifestyle coming up to 79! Hopefully I can match the 4-5 trips like you.
Never really had a mental problem switching off from work (quite high pressure Head of Engineering Design roles), but often did silly long days, up to 18 hours at worst when deadlines loomed and/or problems occurred, and worked through weekends too often, so more a case of physically not being able to fit in much in the way of relaxation and recuperation! Mostly retired these days, and the transition was easy as always could leave work behind, and have a host of interests that more than fill the day.
My camping/caravaning trips were/are often to places where communication with the outside world is somewhat restricted due to no mobile and/or internet cover, and I love it, I don't have a problem letting go of work and not keeping my finger on the pulse (I'll clear up the mess and chew heads when I get back!), others seem to have a far greater problem of not being able to dump 'their' problems on me (seem to be regarded by all as Mr Fixit!), so if they can't reach me, I'm one VERY happy bunny!
Me and my dog somewhere like the quieter bits of Lake District, Peak District, Lincolnshire coast etc., where I can spend hours not seeing of speaking to another human is my idea of heaven. Usually set up the caravan so I'm totally self sufficient and minimal need to shop or venture into towns etc. once I've pitched. I can just totally chill, enjoy my dog, my natural environment and a bit of photography. I find the ability to edge just that little bit further into isolation in the caravan over say a hotel is one of my favourite aspects of it, a self catering cottage can be equally good but at a far higher cost!
I always tried to keep my work and home lives separate and I kept my mobile switched off when I left the office. Now when I'm away in the van (or in a hotel), I keep my phone switched off - not that anyone is going to phone now that I'm retired. I've never had a TV in my van and I don't bother with the internet unless it's to find details of somewhere I want to visit.
The easier it is to stay in touch, the nicer it is to run away and hide.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
If you arrive at the campsite and having put up the tent set up the telly and watch it the whole time with an endless supply of beer and tea it won't be very healthy.
Putting up windbreaks around your pitch so you block out all the other campers and pretend there's no one else out there isn't good, your mental health depends on human contact and communication, meeting new people and sharing past experiences allows you put your life in context.
Since most campsites are in the countryside there is a good chance to get out and walk, good for both your body and your mind. Talking to someone who is walking level with you gives a very different and benign conversation to talking to them across a table.
Walking through a mature healthy forest can give be almost spiritual experience that you'll take away with you.
Folks this might be an entirely genuine and innocent OP, but personally I would be a little bit wary of opening up on my personal life and habits to someone whose first post on the site was an open ended "wanted to know what other people think and what their experiences are".
You get out of this lifestyle what you want, if you want peace and tranquility you pick a site that portrays this and even then if you want to interact with people you can, Most are friendly and will say morning or hello in passing - you dont have to invite folk for a coffee or anything but in being friendly is how most of the folk on here made new friends all over the country. It opens your world to the normal gentle sway of life rather than the 'hectic ive got to make my next buck in life'
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 18/1/2023
Folks this might be an entirely genuine and innocent OP, but personally I would be a little bit wary of opening up on my personal life and habits to someone whose first post on the site was an open ended "wanted to know what other people think and what their experiences are".
That's fair. No one has to reply if they don't feel comfortable. I'm just asking how the lifestyle has changed peoples lives, hopefully for the better.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 17/1/2023
Never really had a mental problem switching off from work (quite high pressure Head of Engineering Design roles), but often did silly long days, up to 18 hours at worst when deadlines loomed and/or problems occurred, and worked through weekends too often, so more a case of physically not being able to fit in much in the way of relaxation and recuperation! Mostly retired these days, and the transition was easy as always could leave work behind, and have a host of interests that more than fill the day.
My camping/caravaning trips were/are often to places where communication with the outside world is somewhat restricted due to no mobile and/or internet cover, and I love it, I don't have a problem letting go of work and not keeping my finger on the pulse (I'll clear up the mess and chew heads when I get back!), others seem to have a far greater problem of not being able to dump 'their' problems on me (seem to be regarded by all as Mr Fixit!), so if they can't reach me, I'm one VERY happy bunny!
Me and my dog somewhere like the quieter bits of Lake District, Peak District, Lincolnshire coast etc., where I can spend hours not seeing of speaking to another human is my idea of heaven. Usually set up the caravan so I'm totally self sufficient and minimal need to shop or venture into towns etc. once I've pitched. I can just totally chill, enjoy my dog, my natural environment and a bit of photography. I find the ability to edge just that little bit further into isolation in the caravan over say a hotel is one of my favourite aspects of it, a self catering cottage can be equally good but at a far higher cost!
I'm so jealous of your ability to switch off from work! Such an underrated skill or ability in my opinion. I've been to Lake District twice but I keep looking at social media pictures and there are definitely some amazing areas I haven't visited so I'm going to make sure I'll go back.
I'm also looking to get into photography with some of my time off so no doubt I'm going to go down the rabbit hole of getting a decent camera! I'd like to also get a drone to start documenting my travels but baby steps first!
We like being able to hitch up and go somewhere nice. Sit outside and watch the world go by or go off exploring.
It's nice to meet other folk as most camper and caravanners are pretty sociable.
We don't work now but it definitely helped us unwind when we were.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by Gazza90 on 19/1/2023
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I'm so jealous of your ability to switch off from work! Such an underrated skill or ability in my opinion. I've been to Lake District twice but I keep looking at social media pictures and there are definitely some amazing areas I haven't visited so I'm going to make sure I'll go back.
I'm also looking to get into photography with some of my time off so no doubt I'm going to go down the rabbit hole of getting a decent camera! I'd like to also get a drone to start documenting my travels but baby steps first!
I've done a lot of working from home, if I didn't have the ability to 'compartmentalise' my work from my home life etc., literally shut my home office door and walk away, ignore my business phone, not check business emails etc. it'd have wrecked relationships, and the potential endless pressure of it would probably have killed me decades ago! It's an essential ability if you work from home and/or have senior responsibilities IMHO. Think it's what kept me vibrant and not reaching a stage where I despised work, I kind of thrive under work pressure, but only because I also unwind during non-work times.
As to the Lake District, it's a stunning beautiful region if dramatic scenery is your thing, but it's also incredible diverse, you can be in the heart of a bustling touristy type town like Ambleside or Bowness/Windermere (they blend into each other!), or wander off into the wilderness and see virtually no influence of humanity (it's often there in subtle and/or historic ways if you know what to look for - old quarries, mines, ruins of Roman forts, etc., and of course dry stone walls!). The landscape is also very diverse, from gentle rolling green hills towards the coast, to the harsh dark almost menacing scree around Wastwater. And no two days ever look the same, in fact no two hours look the same, the ever changing light strongly influences how the landscape appears, it's a dream for landscape photographers/artists. It's my spiritual home, no other place in the world make me feel more like being 'in my special place'.
Photography is indeed a rabbit hole! - but a half decent phone camera can yield some stunning images too if the subject suits. Drones are a hot potato these days, more and more restrictions and more outright bans, they are/can be too intrusive in some environments and spoil others enjoyment all too easily with their visual and noise intrusion.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Improving health whilst camping
via mobile 19/1/2023 at 10:39am
