“According to the KOA 2024 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report on Outdoors and Wellness, campers who bring along their children say that spending time outdoors improves the children’s emotional well-being, relationships, and physical health.
“The health benefits of nature… have been attributed to ‘reduction in air pollution; increased physical activity, including walking and biking; and improved mental restoration through alleviation of anxiety and stress.’” – RVIA
“Wellness” is an all-encompassing term that includes both the mind and body. When you’re traveling or living in an RV, you are already realizing several benefits to your overall health simply by having made this choice.
But those are probably the very reasons that attracted you to RVing in the first place. You get pleasure from new adventures, being outside, and meeting new people. Here are all the ways you can maintain and enhance your wellness while enjoying everything RVing has to offer.
Stay active.
If you’re away from home a lot or the RV is your home, then a portable gym might be worth bringing along. Light, easy to store equipment such as resistance bands, a step, an adjustable dumbbell, and a yoga mat are some suggestions that will help you work out in a small space like an RV or even outdoors. Yoga – practicing mindfulness, stretching, and toning – has myriad benefits for your mental and physical health.
Alternatively, or in addition, you can exercise outdoors. This can be more “formal” like running or more “natural” in that exercise is just a part of your regular activities. Simply incorporate more movement into your everyday life – walking, running, hiking, biking, kayaking, whatever you enjoy doing that also gets you moving.
If you feel like socializing or trying something entirely different, sign up to attend a group lesson or class. Many campgrounds offer classes on-site. Check the DNR website as well for excursions or classes near you. If you have a gym membership, check to see if there are any locations near where you’re staying. A fitness app or YouTube channel opens up your options as far as an organized, virtual class.
Make sure you have the right gear and clothing for any activity or workout you choose to do. They’ll make you feel more comfortable and make the overall experience more comfortable. Incorporate physical activity into your regular routine so that you feel strong and refreshed and ready to tackle anything according to your own personal goals.
Eat healthy.
Eating out has gotten exceedingly expensive in recent years, and if you have a family in tow, that is going to really bite into your food budget. A meal or two out can be fun or a lifesaver, but it’s best to control what you eat by eating at camp. Find a local farmer’s market for fresh ingredients, and make dishes that are wholesome, filling, and easy. There are thousands of recipes available through the internet. You probably have some favorites of your own. Use appliances like crockpots and instant pots for convenience cooking if you plan to be away all day. Cold sandwiches with some chips and veggies might be just the ticket at the end of a hot summer day. Camping has a lot of treats associated with it, and those are fine sometimes, but you can make whatever you wish that makes you feel good.
Drink water.
When you’re not well hydrated, your mind and body don’t function as well as they could. Make sure to drink plenty of water. This is as true during cold weather as warm weather. Bring water bottles along during outdoor activities, use a water filter in your RV, and try to avoid sodas and other sugary drinks (within reason, of course, because what’s the fun in that?).
Prioritize sleep.
Make your bedroom a place you want to retire to at the end of the day, which means it should be comfortable. You can consider replacing your mattress, for one. Choose sheets and quilts or duvets that are breathable but insulating – and easy to wash. A favorite pillow helps to ensure you wake refreshed and without headaches or aches and pains. A sound machine and room darkening curtains or shades can help encapsulate you in a serene oasis. If you have a family and several kids along, make sure each of their sleeping areas is comfortable, too – a comforting blanket from home, a favorite stuffed animal, a flashlight or nightlight, a reading shelf added to the wall if somebody’s a bookworm. Stick to the routine from home as well to help kids go to sleep more readily (after the campfire, of course). Sleep is essential not just for bodies to rest and recharge, but for everyone’s mood regulation.
Settle in.
It’s a lot of fun to visit a lot of new places and do a lot of activities in those places because you may never visit again; however, this is the same go-go-go push that we feel in everyday life back at home. Planning is enjoyable, but it comes with its own headaches and timetables. If you’re feeling burned out or you already know you want a slower pace, pick a campground for a more extended stay (for full-timers) and ignore the pressure to do everything (for any RVer). This allows you to have more time between setting up and breaking down camp as well as to create a bit of a routine. You have time to make meals and simply slow down. This is especially good for mental health, so that you aren’t always in high-gear planning mode. Rejuvenate your spirit by doing things you enjoy, not necessarily the things you feel you have to go see since you’re in the area. If you like to go fishing, find the nearest water hole. If you favor finding wildflowers or birding, ask the campground owner for the best trails. If the beach is calling your name, whether it be for swimming, rock hounding, or getting a tan, pack your beach bag and head out.
Stay connected with people.
We are social creatures. Social media has helped us stay in touch with a lot of people we probably wouldn’t have kept up with. But that “keeping up” is still in large part artificial. Being present and in person is better than any phone call or social media post. However, if that can’t be managed as routinely as you would like, technology can bridge the gap and help you stay connected with beloved friends and family until you see one another again. Likewise, in your own RV “house,” put down the technology and be together as much as possible.
When you embark on the RVing lifestyle, a certain degree of activity and spending time outdoors is a given. Visiting new places and having adventures are good for the soul, while spending time outside in nature has its own benefits. By simply choosing this way of travel – or living – you’re already enhancing your quality of life, focusing on what’s important, and living a healthier life.