Every summer, I make it a point to go camping. Sometimes it’s just for one single weekend. Other times, I manage to go several weekends per year. No Wi-Fi. No traffic noise. Just the sound of wind moving through trees, the crackle of a bonfire, and the subtle reminder that I’m part of something bigger than myself.

I originally didn’t set out to go camping for mental health reasons. It just started as a fun summer tradition with friends. But over the years, I began to notice that every time I returned from a camping trip, I felt better. Not just refreshed, but clearer, more grounded, and somehow… lighter.

So I started paying attention to the why.

Camping resets my sleep cycle

Every time I go camping, I fall asleep earlier and wake up earlier without even trying. I don’t lie in bed doomscrolling. I don’t stay up watching Netflix. After a full day of fresh air and physical activity, my body naturally winds down as the sun sets.

Turns out, there’s science behind this.

A study published in Current Biology (Wright, K. P. Jr., et al., 2013) found that camping helps realign our circadian rhythm. In the study, participants who went camping without access to artificial light experienced earlier sleep onset and wake times, essentially syncing their internal clocks with natural light-dark cycles.

So that groggy feeling I sometimes get at home after staring at my phone too long before bed? Gone when I’m camping.

My screen time drops (and I don’t even miss it)

This one probably shocked me the most.

When I’m camping, I don’t want to check my phone. I barely think about it. It’s not because I’m forcing myself to unplug. It’s that the experience of camping is just more engaging. Building a fire, setting up a tent, going for a hike, cooking something over a grill. These activities keep me busy in a satisfying way.

I’ve also noticed my anxiety levels drop when I’m not constantly plugged in. I’m no longer bombarded by emails, news updates, and endless social media scrolls.

I become more physically active (effortlessly)

When I’m at home, I have to plan physical activity. I have to convince myself to go to the gym, or block off time for a walk between meetings. And let’s be honest. Some days, it just doesn’t happen.

But when I’m camping, movement becomes second nature. Without even thinking about it, I’m constantly active throughout the day.

Some of the physical activities that camping encourages us to do are:

Hiking
Exploring nearby trails is a classic camping activity that improves our cardiovascular health and builds leg strength.

Pitching a tent
Lifting, bending, stretching, and putting up your shelter gets your whole body moving.

Gathering firewood
Carrying logs and branches is great for our upper body and core.

Starting a campfire
Constant movement, crouching, and reaching make it more active than it looks.

Cooking over a campfire
From fetching water to preparing ingredients to cleaning up, it’s all an active process.

Canoeing/kayaking
An incredible upper-body workout that also improves coordination and core stability.

Swimming
If your campsite is near a lake or river, swimming is a low-impact, full-body workout that’s also refreshing, especially on hot summer days.

Playing outdoor games
Even light play gets your heart rate up and encourages movement in a relaxed setting.

Biking
Many campgrounds are near bike trails or roads with minimal traffic, which is perfect for long rides.

Packing up
Breaking down the site and loading the car involves lifting, organizing, and moving around. No gym required.

Whether it’s gathering firewood, walking to the lake, or just exploring the area, I end up taking thousands of steps without even thinking about it.

It’s movement that doesn’t feel like a chore. And I think that’s the best kind.

A study in Environmental Research (Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A., 2018) found that spending time in natural environments significantly increases physical activity levels.

I become more present and more grateful

This one’s harder to measure, but it’s very real for me.

When I’m camping, I notice things I usually miss: The colours in the sky at dusk, the smell of pine, the sound of birds in the morning. I become more observant. More still. And that makes me feel grateful for nature, for simplicity, for life outside my usual routines.

This shift in mindset has a lasting effect, too. Even after returning home, I find myself pausing more, breathing deeper, and resisting the urge to multitask every minute of my day.

People in nature are just… nicer

One thing I’ve consistently noticed when I go camping: People are just more friendly out there.

I’m not usually someone who goes out of my way to start conversations with strangers. But when I’m in nature, whether I’m on a hiking trail, at a campground, or even at a gas station near a provincial park, I find myself chatting more easily. It’s like a social switch gets flipped.

Campers and hikers tend to say things like “Good morning!” or “Enjoy your hike!” when they pass you. There’s this unspoken camaraderie, like we’re all in on something special together. I firmly believe that this is because people who respect nature also tend to respect one another.

In contrast, city life often feels like the opposite. People rush past each other without making eye contact. Everyone’s focused on their own stress, to-do lists, and timelines. I’m guilty of it too. But in nature, that urgency disappears. People slow down. And that creates space for small, kind moments between strangers.

And those moments matter. They remind me that being social doesn’t always mean networking or deep conversations. Sometimes it’s just a smile, a head nod, or a shared appreciation for a beautiful view.

Did You Know Nature Can Be Prescribed? 

Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: in Canada, a licensed healthcare provider can actually prescribe access to nature, and in some cases, even provide you with a free yearlong Parks Canada Discovery Pass.

This is part of an innovative program called PaRx (Park Prescriptions), which recognizes how beneficial nature can be for both mental and physical health. The goal is simple: help people spend more time outdoors, especially those who face financial or accessibility barriers.

At Church Wellesley Counselling and Psychotherapy, we are proud to participate in this initiative. One of our Registered Psychotherapists is able to prescribe one Parks Canada pass per month to a client who could benefit from spending more time in nature.

If you’re a current client and camping or outdoor time feels like it would support your mental health but the cost of accessing parks is a challenge just ask your therapist about it.

Final Thoughts 

I’m not saying that camping is a magical cure for all mental health challenges, but I really think it is a powerful tool that we can use for managing stress, improving sleep, reducing screen addiction, and reconnecting with ourselves and others.

And the best part? It’s pretty accessible. Whether it’s a full-on backcountry trip or just a weekend in a local park, even short doses of nature can have big impacts.

So if you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or just in need of a reset, I highly recommend planning a camping trip. Not just for the adventure, but for your mental well-being, too.

References:

Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). “The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic 

review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes.” Environmental Research, 166, 628-637.

Wright, K. P. Jr., et al. (2013). “Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light-dark 

cycle.” Current Biology, 23(16), 1554-1558.