I think camping might be the most exhausting thing ever!

[EagleRay]

To be fair, I'm recovering from a serious (life threatening) illness but I manage most things on a daily basis without many problems.

But then there was camping...

Took the kids away by myself overnight a couple of weeks ago and it finished me off for the rest of the week.

Just returned last night from two days away (cut short due to heavy rain) and today I've been absolutely floored by fatigue and crying

How do you build up resistance to such things? We're planning a bigger trip before the end of summer!

Anyone else returning feeling less than refreshed by it?

Camping is an endurance challenge not a holiday! I don't do camping.

What I did like about it was the way the pace of life completely slowed though. It’s all about being in the moment. Trying to figure out how to survive the next few hours / get your next meal.
In that sense I can see how you could totally switch off from normal life. My life is very hectic and everything moves at 100 miles an hour. So I suppose I can see the appeal. Sort of.

Mammamia try putting a rug UNDER the air bed. I think cold seeping up from below is the killer.
Having said that I love camping. We have an airbed with sheet, duvet and pillows and it's really comfy. I love the feeling of sleeping in the outdoors (and love sound of rain on the tent, especially if it stops in the morning!).
Hairdryers, make up etc are not part of my life so I don't miss those. When my DD was little she loved making new friends and having water pistol battles. Now it's just DP and me and I still enjoy.

Camp nearer the toilet block!
Refuse to do anything other than sit in a deckchair and read.
Choose a small site so your children can run about and you don't have to entertain them.
I went when I was 6 months pregnant and I literally did nothing.....bliss!

Failing that if you want the benefits for kids but easy life for you get a caravan...I did and love it plus we get 60 billion holidays a year whenever we fancy as it's so much quicker to set up for 1/2 nights!

Take an electric hookup and a fan heater... those two items transform the camping experience!
We have heat on all night (and sometimes have to turn it off as we get too hot!) plus sockets for the essentials... kettle, toaster, mifi, GHDs...!

Once you are warm and dry the rest is so much easier!

I love it, it awakens the primeval feeling. We go out with as little as possible and wild camp with just a fire and a tarp to sleep under.

For festivals a campervan is the way to go for if you can afford it. We have a staying order for a campervan for the festival we go to every year.

Pack it up at home and drive to site. Have flushing toilet, running water, heating and real beds.

I madly talked DH into spending a small fortune on a Kyham tent and lots of accessories. We went twice and it all went onto Ebay. I was horrified by the noise more than anything. Kids awake and playing outside at first light; groups keeping you awake until almost first light talking; needing the loo at 3am; going to bed freezing in about 15 layers and waking up dying because you're so hot. I won't even go there about when it rains or you have to shoehorn it all back into the car sopping wet.

It's not a holiday, it's a form of torture.

Sorry you have been ill / it is hard work but I think it gets way easier. I can leave in about 40mibs now and am sure it took a day the first time and then a day to unpack.
Judicious use of take out pizza, blankets under the mat or air bed and a gillie kettle for quick pot noodles or hot water bottles make everything ok!

I'm off camping for a week on Saturday, 8 days of total bliss in the middle of nowhere!!

These are my tips:

1. bigger tent than what you need in terms of how many it sleeps, so that there's plenty of room for sitting in it if the weathers shit. We have a 6 man text for 3 of us plus it has an extension on the living space.
2. gazebo. You can sit/cook/eat/read under it in all weather.
3. double height self inflating airbeds and sod sleeping bags, we take the duvets off our beds!
4. tent carpets. Yes, these are a thing!
5. choose a quiet exclusive campsite - the one we stay at only takes around 20 tents, no all male/all female/young groups and they are VERY strict about 11pm-7am noise curfew.

Campsites that allow fires - the only way to go.

Also I can’t do ones with people right next to you. Look for wild camping

Camping is shit! Never enjoyed it.

exciting update!!

We braved 10 days camping in France! It took forever to get there and back (Australia would have been quicker) but it was mostly fun and life enriching.

Things that made a difference:

Mostly good weather (big storm too but it was manageable)
Electric hook up
Electric kettle (game changer!)
Electric cool box
End of season on lovely site with good facilities (nice pool etc without the crowds)

It was hardly off grid camping but I still had to run a business and do paperwork while I was away. Plus health isn't 100%

Just need to do the long drive from Dover now!

We had 10 days in France and it was fab, glad you had a good time. I highly recommend hiring a fridge