outdoors Archives - Essential Oxygen

Guest Post By: Ryan Varela

Summer is the season for different outdoor activities. This is also the perfect time to rest and enjoy doing things that will make you happy. If you have been working for the whole year and you feel tired, you can choose to take some summer leave. This is one way to replenish your energy and build your motivation.

Aside from the different individual activities, summer also gives you different options to enjoy with your family. It is the best time to reconnect with your kids and partner. And most importantly, it is the right time for you to explore the world. If you are feeling excited about the season but you still don’t have an idea on how to spend it, here is a list of summer fun activities to choose from.

Go for Vacation

It has been proven by experts that people who develop critical illness spent most of their adult life stressed and tired of their work and responsibilities. If you want to save your health, you need to go for a vacation for the summer. You can start listing down the different places you want to visit and narrow it down by choosing the perfect destination for this year. You can also consider a place where there is someone you know. You can take this vacation as an opportunity to visit the people who matter to you.

Take a Break from Work

Imagine spending the whole year working. That would be so stressful and you will certainly feel burned out before the year ends. Summer is the perfect time to take a break from work. Even if you are not planning to go anywhere, you can still enjoy the company of your family at home. There are different activities that can help you relax while you are not working. You need this opportunity and you have to grab it while the weather is warm and very inviting.

Go for a Run or Bike Ride

Aside from the different activities that can make you feel relaxed and rested, you should also take advantage of the summer heat by going for a run or bike ride. These activities will not only help achieve a fit and healthy body but it will also make you feel better about yourself. With all the outdoor activities that you can do, you need to prepare your body for it. Running or biking during summer is perfect because the warm weather can help you sweat faster.

Go to the Beach

Nature has its way to accommodate people in the perfect season. During summer, you will notice that the waves are calm and the sand is warm. It is the best time to bask under the sun. Go to the beach and just enjoy the blue horizon. You can watch the sunrise and the sunset. And to make the experience more rewarding, try water activities such as diving, snorkelling, surfing and others. You have all the day to enjoy when you are at the beach.

Go Camping

Summer is the best time to go back to nature. You can always do this with the kids or with some friends. Camping can make you feel relaxed and renewed. After the tiring days at the office and the stressful traffic jam in the city, you can go out and try to live a simpler life even just for days. Camping is a good way to connect to nature. You can enjoy sleeping under the stars and you can hear the sound of nature. This will certainly revitalize your soul.

Go for Mountain Trekking

If you are a person who loves adventure and you are physically ready for some long walks, you can go for mountain trekking. This activity will help you harness your energy and it will teach you so many things about achieving a goal. Reaching the peak of the mountain will give you a view that will certainly take your breath away. But more than that, it can give you the confidence to live your normal life again and go for your dreams. The bright summer days will make this activity more enjoyable.

Spend Some Time on a Lake

Now that the lake is clear and you can observe life in it, you will surely love to spend your summer days around one. There are different activities you can do when you visit one. You can stretch your fishing rod while you enjoy a small talk with your friend. Going back to the basic activities in life is relaxing and it gives joy to the soul.

Summer only happens once a year. Make sure that you are spending it right. The few days of summer can be the best days of your life if you know how to make it worth it. Consider the different activities enumerated above and make your personalized list of things to do on your summer break now.

Author Bio:

Ryan Varela is the CEO of Boost Health Insurance which provides customized and affordable health care plans for thousands of customers across the United States. Ryan has nearly a decade of experience in the health care industry and continues to serve the greater need to educate and deliver access to affordable options to those who need health care the most.

By Emmi Buck

Essential Oxygen Staff & Outdoor Enthusiast

These camping hacks will help you pack smarter and lighter, as well as reduce your impact on mother nature – all while making your outdoors trip the best experience possible!

#1: Freeze bottles of water to use in your cooler

This hack helps reduce the plastic you use (which usually becomes garbage on the trip), helps you bring plenty of water, and saves space in the cooler without bulky frozen pads. Fill up and freeze some re-usable water bottles at least 24 hours before your trip, and space them out in your cooler. As the water melts, you have nice icy-cold drinking water!

#2: Bring a travel sized container of biodegradable 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

This multi-purpose cleaner can be used to wipe down camp dishes, cleaning utensils or camping gear, get stains out of clothes, clean ears and wounds, and get rid of skunk smell in case you encounter one of those striped-smelly-sprayers! Since it’s biodegradable, you can confidently clean anything out in nature knowing that our biodegradable FGHP is good for you and for mother earth. You can also add a little to your ears to clean them out, or gently clean a cut to disinfect. Lastly, if your dog or yourself ends up on the wrong end of a skunk, making a paste with baking soda and a little FGHP will get the smell off fide or yourself!

#3: Pre-make most of your food

Whether it’s homemade pre-frozen breakfast burritos, a simple potato or pasta salad, or just washing and chopping veggies before you head out of town, these tricks help in lots of ways! You reduce the packaging/garbage you’ll need to bring with you, save time, and also save yourself the hassle of cleaning dishes while camping.

My favorite camping meal is healthy breakfast burritos, simple recipe below:

10 tortillas of your choice
10 organic eggs (look for local if you can!)
2 large potatoes (peel if desired and cut into grape-sized chunks)
½ a yellow onion (chopped)
4 cups fresh spinach
3 cups grated cheese (I prefer cheddar)
1 lb. MSG-free, organic sausage (local if possible again!) ***omit for vegetarian option and add more veggies if desired***
Olive oil, salt, pepper, italian seasoning
Aluminum foil
Salsa (if desired)

Directions:

If using sausage (or another meat of your choice) season to taste and cook in a pan, then remove meat on to a plate, keeping the grease inside the pan.
Using the same pan you cooked the meat in (or add some olive oil to a pan if you’re not using meat), add the chopped potatoes and season to taste with some salt, pepper and italian seasoning and fry on medium-high for ~8 minutes or until light brown. Add the chopped onion and reduce heat to medium-low, cooking another 4-5 minutes until the onion is translucent. Once thoroughly cooked, add the veggies to a plate, keeping some oil and seasoning in the pan for the eggs.
Scramble the eggs in a bowl, and add to the same pan you’ve been using, cooking on medium-low heat until the eggs are thoroughly cooked, stirring as you go to give them some fluff texture. At the last minute, add the spinach and stir into warm eggs to help it saute down a bit.
Lay out tortillas, filling them one at a time, with a small handful/layer of cheese first, then the eggs, then the veggies, and lastly some meat. Roll up the burrito and place on a sheet of aluminum foil, wrapping it tight.
Once you’ve made them all, add to your freezer, and now the’re ready to reheat over a campfire or stove with minimum work and no clean-up in the morning! You can add some salsa for extra flavor and juicy-ness if desired before eating.

#4: Pack a 3-ounce travel size Organic Brushing Rinse

Not only is it a mouthwash and toothpaste in one, it is biodegradable, so it’s safe to spit out in nature. Keeping your oral care on track while camping/backpacking is crucial, so don’t neglect your pearly whites while you’re away from home. If you’re in a pinch, the Organic Brushing Rinse can also act as a cleaning product for your camp dishes since it has Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide in it!

#5: Bring pre-charged re-usable battery packs or small solar set-up

Whether you need to power a light, Bluetooth speaker, or charge your phone, you can mind many brands of small, lightweight battery packs or portable solar set-ups. Don’t forget the charging cables for any items you want to power-up! We love the Goal Zero mini-solar panels that easily strap to a back-pack and fold for transport.

Goal Zero Nomad Solar Panels Are Great For Outdoor Transportable Power

#6: Extra bags, large and small

You’ll find so many uses for some extra bags. Whether it’s a wet towel or bathing suit you don’t want getting everything else wet in your bag, some dirty dishes you’d rather wash at home, or you find trash left by others (please pick it up!) you can always find uses from your old shopping bags. I also like to put my really muddy camping shoes in them once the adventure is over and I don’t want to dirty my bag or car.

#7: Repurpose shirts or towels for camping rags

If you have an odl towel or t-shirt you we’re getting ready to toss, cut it up into hand-towel sized rags and bring along to use for cleaning while camping. Whether you use it to scrub off pans/dishes/silverware, or wipe down dirty camping gear, these always come in handy and you don’t have to worry how dirty they get!

#8: Bring a small container of coconut oil

By now we all know there are a LOT of uses for coconut oil, and you’d be surprised how handy it can come in white camping! You can use it in cooking, and also on your body. Did you know coconut oil is ~5 SPF and has antioxidants in it to protect skin from sun? It’s also great for dry or chapped skin, soothing aching hiking feet, and softening unruly or damaged hair. Forgot your creamer? It also tastes great when added to coffee! Add some to a small jar for easy and light transportation.

#9: Think through your car/RV/tent/cooler placement

When you get to your camping site, check where the sun is rising and setting and look for shaded areas to park your car and/or set up your tent. Those extra hours of shade in the morning will help you sleep in by keeping your tent nice and cool. It’s never fun to wake up to warm drinks in a cooler, or melted chocolate bars in the car!

#10: Avoid cotton based clothing

Cotton can hold water really well, so if it rains or you fall in a stream – you’d be much better off wearing a synthetic material or wool which dries much quicker. This is especially important if you’re going to be camping where it’s cold or temperatures drop at night. Staying dry and warm can mean the difference between life or death in extreme situations.

#11: Map it out

Make sure you have a detailed printed map of the area your going or before you leave cell service, pull up a map and take screenshots on your phone. Even if you think you know the area well, downed trees, shifted rivers, overgrowth of new plants, or closed trails can always throw you for a loop. Be prepared with a back-up camping spot or route so you’re ready in case things change on the fly while you’re out of cell service.

Summer Fun Activities

11 Camping Hacks You Need To Know