Good morning,

I want to start by asking you a question.

How often do you get away from the hustle and bustle of life?

I don’t just mean not going to work and having a day off, i mean truly get away from the everyday stresses of life

Work
Your phone
TV
Social Media
The Housework
Surfing the Internet

Seriously think about this and let me know your answer.

Me?

Rarely do i get away from all of the above

However, the weekend just gone i managed it and i cannot tell you how refreshed and revitalised i feel!

I struggle with the balance of life, i honestly do and i don’t think there is any harm in admitting that.

Im self employed as a PT. I have 1-2-1 clients, online clients and also group training clients on top of looking after my 2 girls on Thursdays and Fridays when my wife works, the stresses of owning a home and also our pet cat (he is like a teenager!).

Its tiring and i know you can relate to this

I sometimes wonder if it would be possible to just re-wind the clock and be young and free again with the only worry of what time we would be playing football tomorrow or when mum was going to serve dinner!

Anyway, back to the weekend just gone.

I attended The Big Wild Sleepout at Arne Nature Reserve with my 6 year old daughter Caitlin.

It was amazing!

We arrived on site at 5pm Friday evening and had to erect our tents. At this point i did what i had done preciously on my only other camping trip.

I THREW A STROP WHEN I COULDN’T WORK OUT HOW TO PUT THE TENT UP!

My daughter thought this was hilarious and continued doing cart wheels on the grass!

After an hour we were good to go.

We spent the rest of the evening around a camp fire where the guides cooked a fantastic meal, we made clay animals and hunted for sticks to eventually toast marshmallows on the open fire.

Everything was rounded off with a night walk to see and hear some wildlife like Owls, Nightjars and Bats before hitting our sleeping bags for the night.

I woke up feeling like a new person (although with a slight neck ache from the air bed!)

I had gone a whole evening with no TV, No phone (except for photos) and more importantly no Laptop or social media!

This is a big thing for me, I NEVER SWITCH OFF!

We had breakfast, packed up the tent (my daughter was still doing cartwheels!) and then headed back home.

We had a lazy day Saturday but then headed to Chapman’s Pool yesterday for a Purbeck Walk which turned into a small workout as my 3 year old decided she would not walk after about 10 minutes. Those purbeck hills are tough carrying a child!

Oh, and we got lost which led to the usual stress and argument over who’s fault it was!

We finished the day with Dinner next to Wareham River listening to an open mic night at the pub opposite.

I got home and reflected on an amazing weekend and the need to get away from things more.

Most people watch TV, Check Social Media, surf the internet, text, whats app work! etc etc in their spare time and never truly relax.

We truly believe that as long as we are not working we are de-stressing and relaxing when in reality we are not.

So, let me ask you that question again

HOW OFTEN DO YOU TRULY RELAX?

Me, im now planning at least 1 hour a day where my phone goes off and i have quality time with my children and making sure we as a family enjoy some time away from the hustle and bustle of life at least once every weekend.

Have a great week.

 

Ross

PS – Here are some pics from my weekend