I read an article yesterday that talked about how many of us (especially women) tend to rush around every day trying to get as much done as possible and never taking a minute to relax because we are always trying to cram in “just one more task.”

I’m one of those people. I always seem to have a daily “to do” list with 25 items on it that only Superman would have a hope of completing in one day. When my husband convinces me to “sit down and relax” that’s when I see a cobweb that needs to be taken care right that minute (even though it’s probably been there for weeks) or I decide I have to go through that pile of magazines and clip out what I want - the type of things that could wait but that I won’t let wait because my mind keeps a running list of the 1,000 other things I should be doing instead of relaxing). I keep trying to “catch up” with my huge list of things to do but it never happens because every time I cross one thing off I think of three more to take its place. (Yes, I have a huge problem with letting stuff go and having “good enough be good enough.”)

That’s why I love camping so much. When my husband and I pull into a campground it’s like someone pokes me with a pin and lets all the tension drain out of my body and all the things I need to do at home drain out of my mind. I instantly relax and start living in the moment.

The only time I look at a clock when I’m camping is if I want to see a show at the outdoor theater at the campground (or some other event) and on the last day when we need to be sure we are checking out by the deadline. Otherwise I can’t be bothered to care about the time because camping is the only time I don’t feel like I’m on a schedule and the only time where I feel like my time is my own to do with what I want.

Camping is so relaxing because there are few decisions to make:
- what to wear today
- what to eat today
- when to shower (and when I’m really lazy it’s “if I’m going to shower”)
- whether to plop my butt in a chair or take a walk, hike, bike ride, etc.

And none of the decisions are hard:
- what to wear (shorts and a tank or t-shirt if it’s warm and pants and sweatshirt if it’s cold)
- what to eat (whatever is in the cooler and food bins I brought with me)
- when to shower (when I wake up, in the afternoon, in the evening, or not at all)
- whether to plop my butt in a chair or take a walk, etc. (depends how lazy I’m feeling)

When camping I don’t have to make sure to get to the breakfast room at a hotel by 10 am so I don’t miss breakfast or worry about getting out of the hotel room in the morning early enough for housekeeping to come in and tidy up after me. I don’t have a flight to catch or a tour bus to be on or an itinerary to stick to that someone else decided on for me.

Instead I do what I want when I want.

I think camping is truly relaxing and that people who don’t find it relaxing are either: unprepared and didn’t bring enough supplies or the right supplies (like insect spray); bring so much stuff that they spend the whole trip taking care of it (the people that need an entire day to set up their campsite and another entire day to dismantle it); plan meals that are too complicated and too time-consuming; bring work with them; plan too many activities; or just hate nature (I don’t understand this one but I know a few people who think being out in nature is the worst punishment possible - they love the city and can’t stand being away from it).