Not Enough Time For Relaxing When RVing? Try This!
When we picture ourselves RVing it’s easy to get caught up in the ideal image of our RV parked next to a picturesque lake, sitting in a comfy chair with our favorite morning beverage, and listening to the bird’s sing. But for many people, it’s not always that simple. RVing can actually be the opposite of serene and relaxing. And sometimes it feels like you’re doing it wrong.
A couple of years ago I came across a study from UCLA in which researchers had shown that when you treat your weekends like vacations you come back to the office on Monday happier, more rested, and restored than your co-workers who spent their days off running errands and carting the kids around town. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t need any further permission to pour myself my favorite drink on Friday and kick my feet up for some R&R at the campground. Or dream about a remote boondocking spot.
Without a doubt, weekend camping is by far the most popular time spent in the RV, after all, they don’t call us weekend warriors for nothing. But I challenge you to make it easier, make it better than what you’ve been doing already, and more like vacation time.
With a little bit of planning ahead and thinking outside the box, we can make weekend RVing a little more like vacation and a little less like work.
Prepare during the week - throughout the week set aside one place at home as a drop zone - this will be the place where all your weekend necessities will congregate until it’s time to load up. Clothes, gear, non-perishables, etc. Pack and prepare your rig on Thursday night, except for the last-minute items to load in on Friday like toiletries and perishable food. Keep it simple.
Keep the house clean all week long - it doesn’t sound like fun, but it’s worth the reward. I like to follow the Clean Mama method for keeping the house clean and laundry done a little at a time instead of doing it all in one day. It takes much less time than you think and then I have nothing else to worry about while we’re gone.
Make your mealtimes more enjoyable- for me, that would mean eating out - ditching the planning and dishes. But if that’s not possible (or in the budget), then at least try to simplify. Stick to some simple family favorites - this means less planning, shopping, and preparing. To go even easier - prepare as many of your meals as you can before you head out. We like to make our pancakes and bacon at home and rewarm it in the microwave on Saturday making cleanup a breeze. I usually try to use my Instant Pot for dinner a couple of nights by preparing an easy dump-and-go meal in advance.
Stay somewhere close to home - keep your weekend camping radius within an hour or two from home. This wastes less time on travel and allows more opportunities to kick your feet up. If travel time isn’t a concern, then go somewhere new! A change of scenery is actually refreshing to your brain and increases happiness and memories.
Do something new, different, or fun - explore somewhere new, do an activity you’ve always been interested in trying or enjoy new foods. Pretend your next weekend camping excursion is like being a tourist in a new country. Take it all in and treat yo self.
Relax - it feels like there is always something that needs to be done while we’re camping. Maybe it’s dishes or starting the next meal, heading out for a hike, or finally organizing that storage area you keep saying you’ll get to. But it’s okay, just relax, nothing is immediate when you’re outdoors. Except for bad weather. That’s usually a problem.
Bring luxuries into your RV - it may sound silly, but I love to splurge on an expensive hair shampoo and conditioner that I keep in only in our RV shower. I am obsessed with the smell! And now I associate it with wonderful warm showers in our RV after a long day of adventuring with my family. I have also made our RV feel more plush with lots of different handmade quilts and blankets, throw pillows, and soft places to land. I also like to bring in scented candles or our essential oil diffuser with our favorite oils. There are so many little things that can make your camping life a little more like glamping.
Delegate - if you find that you’re the only person who is cooking, cleaning, or planning while at camp, then it’s time for you to delegate tasks to others in your group/family. Tell your spouse it’s their turn to handle dinner, the kids can clean dishes (they won’t die no matter what they tell you), and whoever wants to pick the next activity wins! I quite literally have a chore list for each of our children laminated and hanging up in our RV. Many hands mean lighter work.
Sleep - camping is a great way to reset your circadian rhythm. Taking cues from nature and listening to your body is the best way to get back to good sleeping habits. You’ll feel more refreshed, I promise. Also, drink some more water, like a lot more. You’re welcome.
Prepare the RV for next time - you’ll want to do this all over again so keep the RV looking good and everything will be easier next time you head out for your weekend “vacation”.
Planning - I don’t know about you, but planning our next camping trip, vacation, or weekend away is one of my favorite aspects of travel. While we are camping I love to dream aloud with my family about where we should go next! If you’re the same way, then keep planning and dreaming. Having something to look forward to can ease the Sunday Scaries quite considerably.
I hope a few of these ideas help you to make some changes if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by RV life. This is a fantastic hobby and I encourage everyone to take the time to relax, slow down, and appreciate it all.