How often do you find yourself feeling tired, worn out, or even frustrated with day to day life?
Maybe you’re putting in too many hours at work, or perhaps your work-life balance is so skewed you don’t know where one begins and the other one ends.
The past two years have been a long stretch, and if you feel like you’re on the edge of burnout and need a drastic change of scenery, we’ve got a great idea; head out on a grand outdoor adventure.
Here are a few amazing benefits to stepping back from the norm and taking an adventure in the great outdoors:
1. Promotes Digital Detoxing
When was the last time you flipped the off switch on your phone, tossed it in your bag, and revelled in the fact that you were unreachable, if only for a few days? Taking a screen break can lessen anxiety, help lower your blood pressure and give your tired eye and busy brain the quiet time it so desperately needs. Whether you’re on a peaceful horseback riding trip into the Grand Canyon, or catching up on some reading on the tranquil shores of Lake Placid in Upper New York, unplugging for a few days is always worth a few missed texts.
2. Encourages Clarity & Focus
How much time do you think you’ll have to think about that project sitting on your work desk when you’re at a full gallop, driving a head of cattle somewhere between the Sierra Madre mountains and the staggering beautiful Medicine Bow Forest? Experiencing life on a working Dude Ranch in Wyoming is just one way you can re-teach yourself how to be focused and be clear on your life objectives. Plus, a little adrenaline is usually effective in helping to snap us back to the present.
3. Helps Us Be More Mindful
You probably keep hearing this term a lot lately, but what does it mean exactly? Being mindful means to be present, to be aware, and to be in an intentional state of consciousness. Too often in our lives, we get caught up in the melodrama of our work, of other people, and our families. Sometimes, we just need to take time out. Escaping to exotic destinations like Lānaʻi in Hawaii where you can spend a week connecting with nature, learning to meditate, and nourishing your body could have a profoundly positive impact on the way you take life on when you get home.
4. Gives You a Vitamin D Hit
A study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic found that an estimated 42% of Americans are vitamin D deficient! If ever you’ve needed a reason to get yourself booked on a sunny outdoor adventure, let that one be at the top of your list. A thrilling jaunt through the Florida Everglades, a hike through Yosemite National Park in California, or a sand-boarding session in Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado would all be fantastic destinations to soak up a little extra sunshine.
5. The Outdoors Promotes Healing
Whether you’re on the mend from an injury, trying to cope with a loss, or perhaps just trying to find some peace away from the chaos, the great outdoors is a magic elixir. For the adventurous traveler, a paddleboarding expedition against the backdrop of Alaska’s evocative Glacier Bay could be exactly what the doctor ordered. If it’s a wellness-focused healing experience, a visit to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas may be more your speed.
6. Clear the Air (Literally)
If you’re used to the constant buzz and pollution of any of the big cities, it’s hard not to notice how fresh and clear the air is in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. And if you’re road tripping through Northern California, stopping in to walk amongst the world’s tallest trees in the world at RedWoods National Park, you’ll be hard-pressed to smell anything other than the scent of ancient evergreen and cedar. You might also mistake it for the scent of “relaxed”.
7. Help You Connect with Loved Ones
The best thing about traveling with others is shared experiences, the memories made, and all of those moments in the future when you get to relive that time in your lives. Going on an outdoor adventure is the perfect way to bond with your friends and loved ones. Whether it’s setting sail along the shore of Maine for a day or two, or zip-lining over cascading waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii, if it’s an adventure you seek, bring your favorite humans along for the ride.
8. Inspire You to Live Healthier
It’s kind of hard to get a hold of a Big Mac when you’re on a bird-watching expedition in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and good luck getting your hands on a Chicago Deep Dish Washington State’s Olympic Mountains; fast food makes for poor fuel in the alpines. Choosing an outdoor adventure is a great opportunity to fill your soul with peace and tranquility and your body with wholesome, healthy foods. Carve some time out to visit local farmers markets and seek out unique outdoor farm-to-table experiences.
Taking a great American outdoor adventure is going to change the way you see your own life. It’s going to give you the break you need, help you reconnect with yourself, and with so many breathtaking places to unplug, the hardest part will be coming home when the trip is over.