Life has a way of getting claustrophobic. It could be the stresses of work, a difficult relationship or just the way life seems to get out of control every once in a while. During these times, we can feel constricted and it can be difficult to stay calm and centered. But in order for you to maintain a balanced state of mind, you will need to find a way to destress. A great way to do this is to go on a solitary camping trip. But before you do, you’ll have to make sure you have everything you need. Here are 5 great tips for setting up a solitary retreat for yourself.
1. Make sure your campsite is as liveable as possible
When you go out into the wilderness, you are leaving the luxuries of modern life behind. In the city, life is convenient. If you need food, you go to the market. If you feel hot, you have an air conditioner to help you cool down. You need to relieve yourself, you have a modern toilet that flushes automatically. But camping out in the wild is a truly different situation. If you need water, you have to walk and get water from the river. If you need food, you will have to gather or hunt food. If you need to go to the bathroom, you will have to do your business in a hole, or if you’re lucky, in a portable toilet.
This is why you should prepare a campsite that is not only conducive for a solitary retreat but liveable as well. Remember that you will be staying at the campsite for weeks. If you live there in subhuman conditions, you’ll end up feral instead of enlightened.
It would be great if you have a cabin there. But if you don’t, you could still set up a great campsite, One way is to build a prefabricated house in the woods. You could also have a portapotty brought to the site. Prefab houses are very easy to assemble and maintain. Companies like JJC create and transport prefab houses at the best prices ever. If you’re interested in purchasing a prefab house, just click here.
2. Have a set schedule for your daily meditations
Meditating is one of the best things to do during a solitary retreat. The main reason why you went into the wilderness was to clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts and to destress and divest yourself of the day to day conflicts of life. When you’re in an isolated place it is very easy to lose track of time. One day seems to meld into another, and it’s so easy to just get lazy and sleep the day away. By having a schedule for your meditations, you will be able to stay disciplined and make your days more structured.
When you have your meditation sessions it is important that you choose a comfortable and suitable place. Luckily, forests have a myriad of places to meditate. You can just sit down in a meadow or near a babbling brook, and just listen as nature happens all around you.
3. Make sure to bring ample supplies
Going into the wilderness may appeal to the romantic in you, but life in the woods can be difficult. If you’re going to stay for weeks in the woods, you’re going to need a lot of supplies. You can hunt or fish, but if you’re not really that competent a woodsman, it is best to just bring canned goods and preserves.
You should also bring a lot of drinking water because there is no way of knowing whether the water sources in the woods are safe to drink. You could also bring seeds for vegetables and fruits if you’re going to stay there for a long period of time. Overall if you’re going to live off the grid, it is important that you can support yourself.
4. Make long hikes a part of your routine
Hiking is one of the best things about living in the wilderness. There are so many sights and sounds that you can partake of in the woods. The chirping of the birds, the beautiful landscape, the sound of life all over the forests. To walk in the woods is to be truly free. So make hiking a regular part of your daily schedule.
This will not only allow you to relax, but it is also a form of exercise. Some people feel most at peace when they are exerting themselves. They are pushing themselves so hard that they can’t seem to think about anything else. Remember though that it is very easy to get lost in the woods. So if you’re going to go for a long hike, make sure that you remember the way back to your campsite. It is also a good idea to bring a compass along with you.
5. Have a set strategy for any emergency
Before you set off on your solitary retreat, make sure that you tell your family and friends where you are going. You should also tell them how long you are going to stay in the woods. That way they will have an exact timeline of when you are going to come home, and when to alert the authorities if you’re missing. You should also make sure to bring a flare gun and a walkie talkie to call for rescue. This may seem excessive, but there are hundreds of people who got lost in the woods, so you should never take any chances.
Conclusion
As it was stated earlier, the woods can be a dangerous place. Even if it is a place of serene and majestic beauty, it is still a wild place. So if you’re going to live in the woods for a few weeks, make sure that you are prepared.