How To Recharge After a Long Outdoor Adventure

Whether you just spent a whole day or week in the great outdoors, you must be exhausted. Here’s how to recharge after a long outdoor adventure. Being outside is energizing. Feeling the sun on your skin, grass between your toes, and rocks under your palms makes you feel connected to and in love with nature.

However, outdoor exploration is exhausting, as you usually forgo showers, fresh meals, and uninterrupted rest. If you’ve just returned from a long outdoor adventure, here’s how to recharge and prepare for the next one.

Immediately Put Your Adventure Gear Away

The last thing you probably want to do when you get home is put away your adventure gear, but do it anyway. Dumping it by your front door or leaving it in your car will only leave the task lingering in your to-do list, which isn’t relaxing. Clean your boots, store your backpack, and put away all your camping or hiking equipment.

Not only does this keep your gear in top shape, but it also clears up mental clutter, leaving you with a sense of accomplishment and clarity. Plus, your future self will thank you when you’re ready for your next adventure.

Get Clean

It’s proven that nature is great for your mental health, as it connects you with the earth. However, the resulting dirt and sweat that linger on your body aren’t so great for your mental health. Nothing feels better after a sweaty, dusty expedition than a good scrub.

Hit the shower and wash off the grime, or soak in a warm bath if your muscles are especially sore. Hot water improves circulation and helps your body relax after demanding physical activity. Use this time to take a deep breath and fully transition from trail mode back to home mode.

Soak and Massage Your Feet

Your feet took a beating out there, so give them some well-deserved TLC. Fill a basin with warm water, add Epsom salts or essential oils, and soak your feet for about 15 minutes. Follow up with a quick massage using a massage ball to knead out soreness.

Cook Something Fresh

Trail food is hearty, but it’s not usually fresh. When you get home, your body will probably be craving some fresh fruits and veggies. Plan a recovery meal that has plenty of them, along with a good amount of protein and complex carbs. Here are some ideas:

Sushi bowl with rice, carrots, cucumber, seaweed, tofu, and edamame
Grilled chicken served over a bed of roasted bell peppers, broccoli, and sweet potato
Sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and turkey

Cozy Up With a Reflective Activity

Finally, settle in for some reflective downtime. Journal about your adventure, noting your favorite parts, the mishaps, and everything you learned. You can also do something artsy, such as painting, sketching, scrapbooking, sewing, or clay modeling. Even light exercise can count, including yoga or Pilates. Whatever activity you choose, make sure to dim the lights and infuse your space with scents that boost creativity to fully enjoy and benefit from the experience.

For as energizing as time in the great outdoors is, it’s also pretty exhausting. Learning how to recharge after a long outdoor adventure will help your body recover physically and emotionally. If you take the time to reset fully, you’ll be ready for the next call of the wild!