Camping can be an excellent way to escape the hectic, stress-filled world. Studies have also shown that camping can improve sleep, forge better connections with loved ones, improve memory, and act as a significant overall health boost.
However, while it’s essential to disconnect from time to time, many of us feel that slightly uncomfortable nagging sensation about being unproductive while camping. For others, it’s not even an option—the choice is between staying productive or skipping the trip into the great outdoors.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’re a working professional or a student with exams approaching, you can stay productive while camping. Follow the tips below so that you can enjoy your time out in nature and still get things done.
1. Set Aside Some Working Hours
One of the biggest challenges of staying productive while camping is finding the right balance. It can be difficult to judge just how productive you should be while out in nature and not trying to be on the computer all day.
The best way to do this is to put aside a set period for work each day—and then make sure you stick to it.
First thing in the morning is usually a good time to do this. It’s when others are still asleep and you’re feeling relatively fresh.
Create a semi-work schedule while you’re camping. A couple of hours each morning will give you that sense of productivity while leaving you to enjoy the rest of the day.
2. Stay Powered
If you want to stay productive, don’t leave things up to chance and just assume that there will be good internet or electrical connections where you are. Portable power solutions can be tricky when you’re camping, but with EcoFlow’s River 2 Pro, charging a computer, phone, and other devices, couldn’t be easier.
But the charging station is only half of the battle. EcoFlow also has a variety of portable solar panels that you can unfold anywhere and anytime to power up whatever you need. Lightweight and travel-friendly, our panels come in 60W, 110W, 160W, and 400W options and are perfect for the productive camper.
3. Connect or Disconnect
It’s also worth planning and checking whether you will have cell phone or internet coverage. These days, there are multiple ways of staying connected off the grid. Whether in the middle of a forest or a lake, you can achieve a stable internet connection wherever you go.
The easiest option is to use your smartphone as a hotspot or attach a signal booster to use your phone’s data. However, even if you don’t have cell coverage, you can still get a reliable signal with a satellite in most locations.
That said, your way of staying productive may not require an internet connection. Before you leave, compile a list of things you need to do that don’t require the internet, and make those your priority while you’re there. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done without the constant looming presence of the internet over your shoulder.
4. Get Organized
There’s nothing worse than sitting in front of the computer with the best intentions of working only to find yourself staring dumbly at the screen because you don’t know where to start or what you need to accomplish. It isn’t such a problem when you have the whole day to work. But if you’re minimizing your working day to just a few hours, you need to be quick and productive.
Consider using the last fifteen minutes of each work period to assess what you’ve completed before making a short schedule of what needs doing the following day.
If you need specific documentation or files, try to organize everything before the trip so that when you sit down to work, you can open your computer and immediately start.
5. Stay Healthy
Vacations have traditionally been when you can let things go a little and when the standard rules surrounding eating, drinking, and exercising don’t apply. However, if you want to stay productive while camping, you’ll want to keep on top of your usual health regimen — or at least as close to it as possible.
That’s not to say that you have to live like a monk training for an Iron Man. But we all know that with too much bad food, alcohol, and a lack of proper exercise, productivity tends to take a nosedive. One of the best ways to feel energized and healthy is to exercise first thing in the morning before sitting down to work.
When it comes to food and drink, again, it’s all about balance. You can’t enforce a boring regiment on the others in your group, but you can suggest nutritional options that increase focus and productivity.
We’re not saying you should ditch the campfire hot dogs and smores entirely, but a little here and there will go a long way.
6. Don’t Forget to Have Fun and Relax
It can be tempting to prioritize work, but remember to be present. If you want to work all the time, just stay in the office. But if you feel you need to recharge, relax and have some fun, close the laptop and enjoy your surroundings.
Camping comes with numerous scientifically-backed health benefits, but you’ll miss out if you’re stuck behind a screen all day.
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite like the freedom and connection with nature that comes with camping, but you can still keep up with pressing work matters. Following our six tips, you can get the best of both worlds: a relaxing vacation in nature where you don’t feel like wasting your time. At EcoFlow, our innovative technology allows people to work wherever they want. Shop our portable power stations and solar generators so that you can stay productive while camping and achieve that ideal balance between working and living.