Going camping or backpacking is one of the most interesting things that you can do in the outdoors. And, although summer is now over, that shouldn’t prevent you from having the adventure of your lifetime. Some people prefer going camping in the winter because the adrenaline and the scenery are both very amazing. But, there is no denying that doing this in the winter makes things a bit more difficult.
One of the main concerns of those who are planning such an adventure is sleep. As we all know, sleeping into the wilderness is a bit different compared to sleeping in the safety and comfort of our own homes. When we go on such an adventure we use tents in order to get a roof over our head, as well as provide ourselves with that amazing feeling of camping and wake up the spirit of the adventurer.
If it’s your first time camping or backpacking, sleeping in a tent may be a bit more difficult for you. After all, it’s an entirely different environment that your body needs to get used to. So, you shouldn’t expect to sleep exactly like you to when you’re at home. Unless you follow these five useful tips. Let’s take a look.
1. Bring the exact pillow from home
Our bodies create habits that are not very easy to replace, especially not when we practice them every single night for many years in a row. One of the main things that we are used to when it comes to sleeping is our pillow. Try sleeping on a different pillow and you will immediately notice the difference. Your body will feel like it’s in a different area that’s not familiar, and this will automatically cause some slight discomfort, preventing you from fully relaxing and falling asleep.
This is why we recommend bringing the exact same pillow from your own home. Doing this will “trick” your body into thinking that you are spending yet another night on the regular in the comfort of your own home.
2. Get yourself an air bed
Sleeping on the ground can be a very unfamiliar feeling for your body. Especially if you are camping in a rocky terrain. You won’t be able to find a comfortable position to lay and fall asleep without bringing some sort of a soft material that you can lay down on. And, since you cannot bring an entire mattress that weighs a lot, your next best bet is bringing an air bed. Upon reaching your final destination that you chose as a camping spot, just use a hand powered pump or blow some air into it manually to get it up and running. According to Sleep Reporter, this is the most room and cost-efficient solution that you can consider when going camping or backpacking.
Air mattresses are very cost-efficient and you can find them in almost any store. You don’t even have to purchase something that’s way too quality. Even regular beach accessories can do the job of providing enough comfort for you to fall asleep. Just be careful not to place them on a sharp rock.
3. Dress accordingly to the location
If you are going camping to a location that’s cold, you want to be able to fall asleep wearing regular light clothes. Many people who are inexperienced with such activities underestimating the weather conditions on mountains and hills. Even if it’s very summerlike at the start of your journey on the bottom of the mountain, it can be a cold winter at the top. Bringing warm clothes is very important, or you will wake up in the middle of the night freezing. Then, you will have to improvise with a lot of summer clothes, and your sleep will be interrupted by it.
4. Relax with a glass of wine
Drinking a bit of alcohol is a very popular thing to do on such backpacking or camping trips. And, as we all know already, wine is one of the healthiest alcohols that you can drink nowadays. Wine has a very relaxing effect when you drink it in moderation, and in fact, a lot of people use this method before sleep to relax and wake up rested in the morning.
If you don’t like wine there are a lot of other methods that you can practice. For example, natural based sleeping pills or melatonin are a great way to enhance your sleep. But, we don’t recommend anything that’s too strong because if you need to wake up in the middle of the night for an emergency, you won’t be able to.
5. Tire yourself with physical activity
Chances are that you won’t need any of the methods listed above if you spent a lot of time hiking and doing any sort of physical activity, which is a very common thing to do when going on such an adventure. Tiring yourself before sleep is one of the healthiest and best things that you can do. Simply exploring the area is enough to spend all extra energy and prepare you for sleep. Or, if you want, you can play any type of sports that people usually play when they are out on a camping adventure.
Conclusion
As you can see, most of the things we listed can be achieved quite easily and without any extra costs. All of these will help you sleep better in an environment that you’re not used to sleeping in. Backpacking and camping are both amazing activities that we recommend to anyone who wants to become a healthier individual both spiritually and physically. Our world has a lot of mesmerizing sights to offer and it’s a shame to live our lives without visiting all of these beautiful locations.
As an extra tip, we recommend doing a bit of practicing before going on your first backpacking or camping adventure. By practicing we mean visiting a place that’s nearby your home and is easily accessible with a vehicle. Experience is something that makes a lot of difference when such activities come into mind. Remember to always stay safe and have a great time camping and backpacking.
