Getting a Good Night’s Sleep in the Great Outdoors when Camping
Looking for a way to unplug from stress, reconnect with nature and spend quality time with your family? I have the answer for you – camping. The benefits of being outside are amazing – luscious green plants, fresh air, and a peaceful escape from the loud city noises are just a few of the things you and your family can look forward to.
However, a camping trip isn’t always an ideal recipe for a restful night’s sleep. Many people tend to find themselves shivering through a rainstorm or a sweating through a heat wave, waking up with a stiff neck or worrying about critters. To ensure you have a pleasant camping experience with your family, here are few ideas that experienced campers often rely on for getting a good night’s sleep in the great outdoors.
Be Smart With Your Campsite Choice
Find as level of a camping spot as possible. If it’s not level, keep your head above your feet. Also, rake the ground to make sure there aren’t any sharp rocks and your ribs will thank you later.
Pack a Good Camping Mat
This is one of the simplest ways to keep yourself comfortable, say the experts. A camping mat is as important as a sleeping bag as it is what separates you from the cold ground. When you lie in your sleeping bag the insulation is compressed, which makes it ineffective at keeping the warm air in as most of it is being pushed out. A camping mat, on the other hand, can provide an incompressible layer of air to separate the body from the ground.
Invest in a Quality Sleeping Bag
Cheap sleeping bags are often uncomfortable, heavy and not very warm. They don’t last very long either. Although they might work for camping in perfect weather, they just won’t cut it when the weather turns sour. It is almost impossible to sleep when you’re freezing, so make sure you invest in a quality sleeping bag that will keep your comfortable and warm.
Block Out Animal Sounds
Use earplugs to help muffle any nerve-wracking noises while sleeping outside. If camping with kids, consider taking a battery-operated white noise machine in order to drown out scary noises that might keep your kids up.
Stay Warm or Cool
While roasting marshmallows, warm a water bottle by the fire and toss it in your sleeping bag to take the chill off. On hot nights, you can tuck a gel ice pack in your pillowcase before going to sleep so your pillow instantly has a cool side.
