Note: This is a guest post from Robin Shliakhau of Simplify and Pursue.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately. To front only the essential facts of life and to see if I could not learn what it had to teach and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” —Henry David Thoreau
When you’re out in the wild and daylight is fading, you get stuff done. Fast. You strip down your routines to the bare necessities and you figure out what’s really important. You might find yourself rethinking how you do things. “What must be done before dark? What can wait? What is pointless? What is weighing us down? What can we live without?”
This was my reality when my family and our friends—nine of us all together—went on a weeklong camping trip. During our pre-trip planning we chose a location that would have little to no connectivity. We would also be without electricity and water at our campsite, though there was water nearby. For my family this was the most “off the grid” we had been.
We were thrilled and a little nervous.
When our journey toward a simpler way of life began four years ago, one of the benefits we were looking forward to was more time to spend outdoors. My husband and I are both nature lovers. But marriage and children and careers and the “typical American life” seemed to slowly eat away at our time spent outside.
When our first child came along we bought a backpack carrier, thinking that purchase would be the key to us getting back into the woods more. But as with all buying promises, it failed to deliver as we would dust it off only about once a year.
As we realized that our lives were cluttered both physically with our possessions and time-wise in all the commitments and activities we had, we began to make changes.
We purged our home of the obvious and with that momentum, we gave it another sweep, discarding even more items first deemed necessary. We also began saying something we rarely said — “No.” We noticed that every time we said yes to something, we were saying no to our family going hiking or pursuing other things that were more important to us.
As clutter disappeared, we found freedom, time, and energy to do more of what we love. We started hiking more and added weekend and weeklong camping trips. In doing so, we realized benefits to being outdoors that go along with our desire to live simply.
Physical Health. The physical health benefits from being outside may be pretty obvious at first, but there are more than I realized. Studies have shown that besides the vitamin D intake, being outside can boost immunity, reduce inflammation and even increase recovery and healing times. Activity outdoors can also have a higher fitness benefit than exercises done indoors.
Mental Health. A walk in the woods or even just a quick trip to a park can help lessen depression and anxiety, reduce stress, improve short term memory and reduce mental fatigue. Any time I need a boost in my mood, spending even five minutes in the sunshine will help. Imagine the benefits we receive from spending an entire day or even more outdoors.
Inspiration. As I’ve made it a priority to be outdoors, I find myself returning from outings inspired and excited about life. It’s almost like there’s a innate knowledge of what’s important and essential that awakens when you’re outside. Thoreau said, “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” Many people claim that their best ideas come to them in the shower, I have had the same happen when in nature. My creativity, confidence, and focus all increase after a hike or weekend spent camping.
Good for our kids. In between my generation and the generation of my children there has been an extreme decrease in the amount of time kids spend outdoors. In his book, How to Raise a Wild Child, Dr. Scott Sampson cites several reasons that kids are spending more time indoors than ever before and shares shocking statistics of how little time kids get out versus hours of screen time each day. This has given rise to many negative consequences such as poorer physical and mental health. But as mentioned previously, all the benefits we as adults can reap from time spent outdoors, it is even better for our kids.
It is clear that time in nature is good for us and our kids. Simplicity has created more time for us to be outdoors.
Interestingly, that time outdoors has also given a boost to my commitment to live more simply.
Our week camping forced me to reevaluate some of our daily habits and rituals. We had to strip them down to the essentials in order to beat the darkness or make the most of our time. Why would I add to them when at home?
Are the extras I do or have at home really adding value to our day or to our life? But it’s not just maximizing my time, but realizing that the resources our earth gives us are limited and sometimes fragile. The excess and pace of modern life puts a strain on the environment and on our lives that we cannot fully comprehend. So let’s make time to get outside a little more and discover all the benefits nature has to offer.
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Robin Shliakhau blogs at Simplify and Pursue where she helps others simplify their life and home in order to pursue relationships, dreams, and goals. You can also find her on Facebook.
Love the post! We try to spend as much time outdoors as we can, especially now that we have a two year old. It’s so great for him developmentally. I haven’t read Dr. Sampson’s book, but I will check it out now. Thanks!
Great read Robin! Way to get back out there and rediscover the foundation! In the words of Emerson, “nature always wears the colors of the spirit”. Thanks for the offering Josh!
I like that quote Bill! And thanks for your comment!
Beautiful post, Robin! My parents encouraged us kids to spend most of our time outdoors, and we did. Most of my memories of my childhood involve the backyard or woods nearby where we went exploring.
I’ve also found that a walk outside helps me refocus and build up my energy. I usually take a walk sometime in the day when I start to drag.
Oh! And another finding of the research. Nature walks make you smarter. You might find this interesting: http://pss.sagepub.com/content/19/12/1207
Cheers!
Thank you Stephen! I spent a lot of time in the woods as a kid too. Thanks for sharing the research, I will have to read through that as well. It really is so great for us to spend time outdoors! -Robin
As an outdoor (plein air) painter, I can attest to all the benefits you detailed. Walls may keep us safe and comfortable, but nature warms our spirit and calms our souls.
John, loved how you said that, “nature warms out spirit and calms our soul”! So true! Best, Robin
Great article. I love the outdoors. I even step out at night before going to bed one last time to take in the moment and breathe. The outdoors rebalances us and reconnects us to the natural rhythms of life.
I agree. We need the outdoors more as well. I’m stuck in an office all day and tend to go home and veg in the house at night. Sometimes, even the tiniest step can bring fresh air into your heart – for example, I can’t take all my dogs hiking by myself, so I shuffle us to the backyard so they can roam and I can lay on the hammock and see the stars.
That’s awesome! You don’t have to wait when you have time to go somewhere spectacular. Take advantage of what’s right outside your house. That’s a good start!
I live in the concrete jungle known as NYC. It’s sometimes hard to find a space with trees, flowers, or grass, but I make an effort to do so regularly as it soothes my soul. I also love to be near the water and fortunately have a river view where I live. My husband and I like to find a “nature space” and just sit contemplating the beauty that surrounds us there. It’s true what John Muir said, “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
Hi Annie! I love that you’re finding a way to get a little bit of the great outdoors even in a city like NYC! In the book I referenced, “How to Raise a Wild Child” Sampson says that the best place to start and spend considerable time is in our own local places, even cities can have a considerable amount of nature tucked away!
Great post! I really want to plan a trip to nature where I won’t have much connectivity and spend as much time away from modern day living and technologies too! I am always infront of a PC because of work and barely go out as a result.
Thank you Helen! I hope you get to take that trip! -Robin
A couple of years ago I spent a week rafting on the Rogue River in Oregon. It was great to unplug from technology and be in nature(getting to see bears in the wild is a thrill).
I love to be outside even if it is just walking my dog, riding a bike, or a short day hike. It lifts me in a way that looking at a screen all day can’t.
As people wiser than me have said “more green, less screen”.
That’s awesome David! I’ve seen bears once in the wild–hiking in the Smokies–and it was quite a thrill! Thanks for sharing! -Robin
Wonderful post. One of my absolute favorite things to do is go on little hikes. It always lifts my spirits and I notice that I sleep better too!
Fab post – this is exactly how my partner and I have been feeling. We live in the UK so our camping season is (sadly) coming towards it’s end now but so far we’ve managed to rack up 35 nights under canvas and it’s done us the world of good! When we got home from the last trip we were really energised and ended up giving many, many bags of items to our local charity shop. We live as minimal as possible anyway and have been following this blog for several years but still felt ‘hemmed in’ compared to being outside and in our tent.
Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope it encourages others to do the same – nothing more liberating than being away from your mobile in this day in age!
Wow! You have gotten in a lot of camping. That’s great!! -Robin
Lovely post, it really resonates with me. I love spending a day outdoors in nature, but even a few moments can make a difference – Recently I was in a busy train station feeling very anxious about it. I looked away to try to pretend I wasn’t there and ended up gazing at the beautiful clouds in the sky. I felt calmer and actually grateful for being on the station with the view of the sky!
Sally, I really love your comment. What a beautiful thought, to just look up in the clouds to even get that moment of natural beauty! Thanks for sharing! -Robin
Beautiful article. And just like nature, loneliness is an important moment and experience. It always you to listen to the inside of you which is otherwise surrounded by all the noise around you. Outdoor and loneliness are two key elements to minimalism.
I just adore this. It has reminded me how much I love being outside and need to do it more, even in the winter.
http://www.rosieleizrowice.com
I love the outdoors and we have taken quite a few trips to CO to hike and even did so as a family with our son last year who was only 18 months. However, we live in Houston, TX. It is sooo hot here and humid. Most people don’t go out until the evenings here and then you have the nasty mosquitoes to deal with. What to do…
We did a 6 week camping trip this summer with our 5 kids. It was amazing. A week in Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Bighorn National forest, the black hills, Rushmore. Plus we live right by Glacier National Park, and we head over there a few times a year. The leaves will be changing soon, and it stills my soul like nothing else can.
Hi Montana, I’d love to bring the kids outdoors for overnight or an extended vacation. Was your trip car camping, backpacking or horseback? I am wondering is a guid could make our trip more successful.
Guide, not guid
Nature is good for us, thats why us city folk buy cottages far from the city, so we can get away and relax. Even the meditation apps I use I opt for background sounds to be nature – mountain side, a flowing stream, birds, the sound of wheat grass blowing in the wind. I find that when I’m anxious and I can’t access a lone space with nature, I turn on the app. Its so helpful.
Thank you for sharing, it was a wonderful article!
I myself find all of this to be true too. I love being outdoors in the woods! It’s so relaxing and stress relieving, giving me time to be still and think. I love to forage for wild foods, as well and watching the wildlife and the sun gives me a mood lift. When I’m feeling down, I always go for a long walk outside and feel much better returning.
Great post Robin! Very insightful. I love and crave the outdoors! Working inside at a desk, I almost start to view taking a walk on my lunch as an “interruption” to my day, but when I get my behind out there, even 10 minutes is amazingly refreshing and I always come back with a clearer mind.
Thank you for inspiration to keep up the daily habit.
<3
Arie
http://herfreespirit.net
I read this article when you first published it a few months ago. I came back to it today, as November enters and winter creeps in. I definitely needed the reminder to get outside, even when it is cold and uncomfortable. Thanks for writing this – is it ok if I share a link to it on my blog?
A great reminder for people who live in the cold frontier to step out even during winter. Thanks so much!!
Raised my children to enjoy and traverse the woods, beac, and mountains. Fast forward i am now in my 60’s and been charged with raising my beautiful granddaughter, age 6. How do we jump into new outdoor activities and adventures