Staying home isn’t something we practise a whole lot around here, but if pressing pause while we ride out the coronavirus curve means keeping the community safe and getting back to doing what we love sooner, we’re not ashamed to admit our trackies are looking pretty darn good right now. Now we’re not pretending laying low won’t make you a little stir-crazy at times, so we’ve rounded up some ways to help you kick cabin fever where it hurts – and if you haven’t already, putting on real pants is a pretty good place to start.
Mental escape
Don’t get us wrong, you absolutely should stay up-to-date with the changing information. But there’s being informed, and then there’s bingeing – and the latter only serves to pander to the panic and burn yourself out mentally. Once you’ve got the latest news, give your mind some distance too. A podcast off your to-listen list, an hour on the balcony with a book or magazine, catching up on your favourite camping blog, or even an at-home meditation session… there’s a tonne of different ways to be transported out of your four-walled world.
Natural remedy
It’s widely documented that camping and being in nature are great for your health, wellbeing and social connections. While an extended family gathering at your favourite campground isn’t on the cards right now, the mood-boosting powers of sunlight and fresh air are readily available no matter where you are (maybe even more so if you’re normally based in a CBD and currently working from home!). Make the most of opportunities to have short breaks outdoors, whether that’s a brisk walk around the neighbourhood at sunrise, an evening swim at a quiet beach, a run or a bike ride – even the slightest immersion in nature goes a long way to keeping you sane (just remember to only choose outdoor locations where you can still adhere to the tenets of social distancing).
“Spring clean” your kit
Productivity is a powerful boredom buster and now that we’ve all found ourselves in the once-coveted position of having surplus time on our hands, we reckon you’d be foolish to waste it. Around here we’re taking the opportunity to tick off some To Do’s, specifically getting our kit ready so we can make a swift break for the bush when the madness is over. Maybe your swag or your cast iron pans need seasoning, your sleeping bag needs patching, your Camelbak needs cleaning or your torch batteries are on the blink. Maybe it’s about time you upgraded from emergency garbage bags to an actual rain jacket with discernible sleeves, or perhaps your entire caravan needs reorganising. If you need to resupply, shop brick-and-mortar stores online to help small businesses doing it tough.
Plan a holiday
We reckon the anticipation of a holiday is almost as good as the holiday itself. Researching where to go, where you’ll stay, what you’ll need, and compiling a list of things to do while you’re there are surefire ways to stay in a positive frame of mind when you’re at risk of crawling up the walls. There’s still a lot of unknowns about when and where travel will resume, but creating a loose plan for a road trip in your home state for 6 months or a year’s time is pretty low-risk undertaking, and gives you something on the calendar to look forward to. Kudos if you’re able to book in advance, as this gives businesses suffering from the tourism slump a bit of security for the future, too.
Upskill and get creative
Ever wanted to be that guitar dude/lady at the campground who belts out a skin-tingling rendition of Blowin’ in the Wind while the sun slowly sets? Of course you have. You can be that person and more thanks to the gazillion-and-one skills you can pick up through internet how-tos and Youtube. Crochet a beanie, make beer damper, tie the perfect fishing knot or do something with all that raw GoPro footage you have sitting on your hard drive. If video editing isn’t your bag, put pen to paper and start that travel blog you’ve been putting off. Reliving past adventures is a great way to get jazzed for new ones down the track.
Virtual happy hour
Thanks again to our good friend the internet, you couldn’t ask for a better time in history for social distancing. Virtual happy hour via Skype, Hangouts, Zoom or whatever platform you choose, is the new Friday night drinks, and there’s nothing to stop you doing the same with your camping crew if you’ve had to postpone a trip. Beers, marshmallows, beanies and flanno’s – dial in, crack a coldie and you’re all set. If you’re home with kids when you should be out camping with the kids, throw the tent up in the backyard or living room, flick on the torch and let the ghost stories begin.
How are you coping during these crazy times? Let us know in the comments!
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