How often do you feel tired, worn out, or even frustrated with how your life is going? Maybe you’re putting in too many hours at work, or perhaps your work-life balance is so skewed you don’t know where one begins and the other ends. 

The past two years have been a long stretch, and if you feel like you’re on the edge of burnout and need a drastic change of scenery, we’ve got a great idea; head out on a grand outdoor adventure. 

Here are a few fantastic benefits to stepping back from the norm and taking an adventure in the great outdoors: 

1. Promotes Digital Detoxing

 When was the last time you shut your phone down, tossed it in your bag, and reveled in the fact that you were unreachable, if only for a few days? 

Taking a screen break can lessen anxiety, help lower your blood pressure and give your tired eyes and busy brain the quiet time it so desperately needs. 

Whether you’re on a peaceful horseback riding trip into the Grand Canyon, or catching up on some reading on the tranquil shores of Lake Placid in Upper New York, unplugging for a few days is always worth a few missed texts.

2. Encourages Clarity & Focus 

How much time do you think you’ll have to think about that project sitting on your work desk when you’re on a horse at full gallop, ahead of cattle somewhere between the Sierra Madre mountains and the staggering beautiful Medicine Bow Forest?

 Experiencing life on a working Dude Ranch in Wyoming is just one way you can re-teach yourself how to be focused and be clear on your life objectives. 

Plus, a little adrenaline is usually effective in helping to snap us back to the present.

3. Helps Us Be More Mindful

You probably keep hearing this term a lot lately, but what does it mean exactly? Being mindful means being present, being aware, and being in an intentional state of consciousness. 

Too often in our lives, we get caught up in the melodrama of our work, other people, and our families. Sometimes, we just need to take time out. 

Escaping to exotic destinations like Lānaʻi in Hawaii where you can spend a week connecting with nature, learning to meditate, and nourishing your body, could have a profoundly positive impact on how you take life on when you get home.

4. Gives You a Vitamin D Hit

A study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic found that an estimated 42% of Americans are vitamin D deficient! 

If ever you’ve needed a reason to get booked on a sunny outdoor adventure, let that one be at the top of your list. 

A thrilling jaunt through the Florida Everglades, a hike through Yosemite National Park in California, or a sand-boarding session in Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado would all be fantastic destinations to soak up a little extra sunshine.

5. The Outdoors Promotes Healing

Whether you’re on the mend from an injury, trying to cope with a loss, or perhaps just trying to find peace away from the chaos, the great outdoors is a magic elixir.

For the adventurous traveler, a paddleboarding expedition against the backdrop of Alaska’s evocative Glacier Bay could be exactly what the doctor ordered. 

If it’s a wellness-focused healing experience, a visit to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas may be more your speed.

6. Clear the Air (Literally) 

If you’re used to the constant buzz and pollution of big cities, it’s hard not to notice how fresh and clear the air is in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. 

And if you’re road tripping through Northern California, stopping in to walk amongst the world’s tallest trees in the world at RedWoods National Park, you’ll be hard-pressed to smell anything other than the scent of ancient evergreen and cedar.

You might also mistake it for the scent of “relaxed.”

7. Help You Connect with Loved Ones

The best thing about traveling with others is shared experiences, the memories made, and all those moments in the future when you relive that time in your life. Going on an outdoor adventure is the perfect way to bond with your friends and loved ones.

 Whether it’s setting sail along the shore of Maine for a day or two, or zip-lining over cascading waterfalls on the Big Island of Hawaii, if it’s an adventure you seek, bring your favorite humans along for the ride.

8. Inspire You to Live Healthier 

It’s hard to get a hold of a Big Mac when you’re on a bird-watching expedition in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Good luck getting your hands on a Chicago Deep Dish in Washington State’s Olympic Mountains; fast food makes for poor fuel in the alpines. 

Choosing an outdoor adventure is an excellent opportunity to fill your soul with peace and tranquility and your body with wholesome, healthy foods.

Carve some time out to visit local farmer’s markets and seek out unique outdoor farm-to-table experiences. 

Taking a great American outdoor adventure is going to change the way you see your own life. 

It will give you a break you need, help you reconnect with yourself, and with so many breathtaking places to unplug, the most challenging part will be coming home when the trip is over. 

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