Top 5 Must Do's When You Go Camping

Over time I have learned less is better when you go camping, as long as you are smart about what you pack. Everyone has different needs and wants, so it takes practice to figure out what works and what doesn’t for you. 

Must haves for me are a pillow, good sleeping bag, tent, camp chair, cast iron pan, and grate to cook on over the fire. Of course, food and water, but that is a given. What I have discovered is there is such a thing as bringing too much stuff. You don't want your adventure to be another chore. The less to set up or clean or pack up means more time relaxing and enjoying the moments. 

Top 5 "Must Do" Moments when Camping

Take in the Sunset  Get your camp chair and chill watching the sunse

Make a Campfire Camping is not the same without a campfire. Sit in your camp chair and watch the fire dance. 

Stargaze  Once the sun sets and the fire dies down look up at the sky and take in all those stars. It will blow your mind, out in the middle of nowhere in the dark, all those stars in the sky.

Campfire Breakfast  When you get up in the morning a breakfast cooked over the fire is a must. Bacon and eggs first thing in the morning out in the middle of nowhere is amazing.

Morning Chill In the morning before your amazing breakfast just lay there in your 
sleeping bag looking out your tent at the amazing beauty around you. Take it all in… deep breaths.

Camping and nature is so good for your soul. It takes away the stress if you do it right. I also helps you think more clearly. The best way to figure out what works for you to go out and do it. You will make mistakes and forget things. That’s how you learn what works for you. 

Top 5 Steps to Live Your Best Life

These past couple of days have been like stepping back in time. I am back out on the east coast visiting my kids. Hanging with them in my old house is very surreal, which has flooded my mind with a lot of old memories and feelings. Each time I come back this happens. However, this time it's different. This time, I am not overcome with emotions where I cry with shaking shoulders. This time something spiritual happened. All that emotion was taken away. Finally I can let it all go, so I can move on with my life. It has been a long process of healing. Not only that it has been even a longer process trying to live my best life. A journey of discovering myself again. 

When I became a mom 22 years ago I didn't realize I still needed to hang on to me. I still needed to have my own life. It is okay to hold onto that part of you, actually a necessary thing to do. I know a lot of stay-at-homes who neglect this part of their lives. The focus is all on being the best mom they can. In that process they lose a little of themselves each year. For me getting it back was almost a nine year process with a lot of tears and anger. 

Living your best life brings you happiness. Happiness isn't stuff or a full schedule or tons of friends. The media and corporate America have brainwashed us into believing tangible things will make us happy. Finding that true happiness is a process, a slow methodical process that worked for me. A burden was lifted each time and it felt good. 

Top 5 Steps to Live Your Best Life 

YouTube Video

Declutter your Stuff: 

Be purposeful about this. Go drawer by drawer, closet by closet. Then do it all again in a couple of months. Emotionally holding on to stuff bogs down your life. Stop using those excuses, "one day I will use it" or "I spent a lot of money on that I can't". That is living in the past or living in the future. Live in the here and now. 

Declutter Your Time:

Reduce your commitments like volunteering or events you attend. Re-evaluate your job. I started slowly with my volunteer commitments. I taught myself to say no. My job loss was not on purpose but being let go was a blessing in disguise. 

Declutter Your Electronic Life:

Reduce your time on social media, reduce the amount of social media you have, reduce your information overload, and most importantly disconnect from the world once in a while. Information overload can be debilitating. 

Information Overload Article

Declutter Your Relationships:

Cut out the negative people in your life. This is a hard one to do, but very necessary. Negative people are very draining emotionally.  

Declutter Your Past Emotions:

This was the hardest one for me to do. I was able to finally let go a couple of days ago. When I moved to Colorado in 2020 I knew I was on the road to my best life, but something was holding me back. My son Michael saw it. I was blinded by my own emotions. I was grieving a loss, so many losses, my home, my old life, my old friends, my marriage. There was a lot of unnecessary guilt I placed on myself and a lot of anger from wrongs done to me. I needed to forgive myself and let go of those wrongs before I could truly move on.  

Declutter & Simplify Links: Jeep Momma Blog Posts