Howto start sleeping outdoors alone - what level of discomfort are you comfortable with?

Every now and then the question of howto begin to sleep outdoors alone pops up. One and a half week ago at one of the tent spots in Lauhanvuori National Park I also had a discussion about this around the campfire in the evening.

The first time I slept alone in a tent NIMBY (not in my back yard :)) was actually in March 2018. I had slept in the tent with company earlier several times and also tested it in winter in my backyard so I felt confident about that. The tent spot was a known place, and I also went there earlier during the day with some firewood (I didn’t own a portable kitchen / gas stove at that time). I was super excited during the day, happy I was finally gonna do it, but I also knew it would be kind of a hard night. I actually had no expectations to enjoy the evening and the night, but I knew I would at least enjoy the morning, making a fire and drinking coffee. And I knew it was something I wanted to learn to enjoy more long-term.

The first time it was mostly about getting through the evening and the night. I went out at about 5 pm so that I could pitch the tent before it got completely dark. I then made a fire and cooked dinner, but at 6 pm I had already eaten and had nothing to do. It’s really easy for me to distract myself with stuff when I’m alone at home, but it’s far more difficult in the forest. I ended up postholing around in the snow, and finally watching something on Netflix on my phone in the sleeping bag. I just didn't feel the slightest bit comfortable with doing nothing at that time.

I don’t think I even slept that much, but damn waking up in the morning and only having to think about coffee, that’s a really good feeling for me.

Still I don’t always sleep well when I’m out with the tent, but I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors anyway. And sometimes even if it feels like I’m awake more than I sleep and that I just turn and turn on the mattress, it’s like the recovery it better outdoors. Sometimes it also takes me about two nights before I start to sleep really well.

I can’t really say for anyone else, but I guess when you want to start sleeping outdoors alone, you have to figure out yourself what level of discomfort you are comfortable with and start there. Take as small or big steps as you need!

If you don't know where to start, here a few things that might be worth considering:

-Get acquainted with the equipment if you aren’t already. Pitch the tent (and test other gear) at home so you feel confident.

-Sleep in your back yard or somewhere close to home, or wherever you feel ok. Knowing that you can escape and go home at any time might make it easier. Sometimes going where you know chances are extremely small that there’ll be other people may be better for your own safety I guess. (Personally I’ve only been in places where I haven’t had to be afraid of people or animals, but that can be a factor sometimes.)

-Check the weather report, maybe you want your first night or nights to be dry and have reasonably temperature and wind conditions, even if it's only your back yard. Or maybe you want bad weather, to test that! :)

-Bringing company may be a good start if sleeping outdoors is completely new. Or have someone you know sleeping in a tent nearby or further away.

-Bring some distractions (books, Netflix etc) and don’t expect to enjoy nature or like sleeping outdoors in the beginning. Maybe you will like it straight away, maybe you won’t - it can feel worth it any way! For me it was definitely getting used to it.
-Analyze your triggers and see if there is something that can help you. I made up this challenge for myself that I would sleep outdoors at least once a month for a year. I did that because I thought I would start to enjoy it after a while, and I sure did (otherwise I wouldn't have kept it up). Maybe there's something that can trigger you too? (Coffee outdoors in the morning? ;))

Nowadays one of the best feelings I know is actually lying down in my tent in the evening after a hiking day. It’s so easy to feel pleased then! I really enjoy going outdoors, with or without company. Sometimes I prefer to go where I reckon there will be other people, sometimes I prefer to go where I know there won’t most likely be anyone else. (My level of adventure is still not that high though and if I know I won’t have phone reception I still always go where I know I there’ll be other people now and then. I’m still going very much in small steps here…)

This far into the year I have less than 10 nights in tents. The intention was to write a little bit about a few of them (most in winter), but the words haven’t really been coming to me and I’m not doing much I’m not enjoying. I also have a few ideas of other aspects of outdoor life I’d like to write about, maybe something else will pop up here soon or maybe it won't ;)

No, the bush didn't grow that big over night. Sometimes finding even enough spots to sleep on is hard... Though with an air mattress it's actually very much possible to put extra clothing under it to even it out or lift the head end!