June is….Great Outdoors Month and Camping Month!

Poppy Field

It may not be the best of timing in the UK weather wise, but regardless the month of June is both ‘Great Outdoors Month’ and ‘Camping Month’!

OK, so you may not feel a deep seated urge to get back to nature on a camping-size scale…….sharing your sleeping space with your insect neighbours and being more than a 100 metres from a Wi-Fi service may be your worst nightmare.  But you can still enjoy the great outdoors on a smaller scale and not so far away from your own backyard (and internet service) and reap the benefits!  Interested now?  Then grab your water proofs, wellies, sun cream and sun hat (let’s keep all possibilities covered..) and away we go!

It can be a cheap day out with the children – games at the park, building sandcastles at the beach, walking the dog in the woods, even gardening at home to name a few– all are cheap or even free activities and encourage us to get out and spend more time in the fresh air, away from the various screens at home.

Perfect Round of Golf

Studies have shown that spending time in the great outdoors can make you healthier – escaping to your local park, woodland and countryside can help you both mentally and physically.  A few benefits are;

• Research has suggested that too much technology can lead to an increase in feelings of anxiety and poor sleep. In contrast a study in 2013 by the University of Colorado Butler indicated time spent camping in the great outdoors can improve sleep.  The study researched campers for a week and discovered sleeping away from artificial light helped reset their natural circadian rhythms and they were waking up fresher and less groggy.

• Spending time outdoors is essential for good mental health, especially for city dwellers. Research by the University of Michigan found that walking ‘in nature’ even just for a few minutes can lessen depressive symptoms, something especially common in people living in built-up spaces.  Time outdoors enjoying nature can increase our serotonin levels.  Serotonin is a chemical which is said to help produce healthy sleeping patterns as well as boost your mood.

• Rediscover your sense of awe! Do you find yourself star-gazing, looking out for sunsets and sunrises?  Where better to do these things than away from the busyness of our towns and cities.  Enjoying these moments of wonder has been suggested by researchers to make us happier and more creative and inventive.

• No screens (and that means resisting the temptation to check your smartphone)! Take time to re-establish real connections and stop the distraction of technology for a while.

Feel inspired yet?

No…. Wake Up!

Here at Sendacard.co.uk we have a wide range of beautiful cards celebrating the great outdoors – just visit us at http://www.sendacard.co.uk/Blank-Cards-for-All-Occasions to see them (a few have been included in this post).  We’ve just introduced some stunning designs from Abacus Cards to our selection from their ‘BBC Springwatch’ and ‘BBC Countryfile’ range.

Peace and Tranquillity

If you’re contemplating a camping trip then here are a  some web addresses and links that may be helpful;

http://www.ecocampuk.co.uk/2016/04/07/camping-advice-and-best-camping-tips/

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/expert-advice/the-beginners-guide-to-camping

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Camping

(By including these web addresses and links we are in no way endorsing the products or places advertised, these have purely been selected because of their useful camping hints and tips).