When you think of health and wellness, what first comes to mind?
Maybe it’s following a specific style of eating or regularly attending a gym. Maybe it’s finding ways to get involved with your community by attending church or volunteering for a cause you care about.
Of course, all of these and more are pieces of a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. And they’re also all associated with, well, staying still. You can’t really join a gym if you’re going to drive away from it in two weeks, and it’s hard to find a community if you’re always on the move. It seems like you’ve got to be in one place long enough to establish those routines.
That can be a problem for those wondering how to become a full time RVer. Can you stay healthy and happy while living in an RV year round?
RV Lifestyle
Obviously, the RV lifestyle is all about mobility. If you wanted to stay in one place all the time, it makes a lot less sense to have a house on wheels!
That said, not every RVer travels with the same frequency. Maybe you spend a couple of weeks or a month at each destination, or maybe you hunker down for six months or a year before moving on. Beyond that, we all have different needs and thresholds when it comes to routines and socializing. Maybe you’re happy spending most of your time alone or with your family, or maybe you become depressed if you’re not surrounded by a crowd at least a few days each week.
All those factors will affect how many of those “stabilized” routines you can become involved in. For instance, it’s hard to make real friends in a place if you’ll only be there for ten days… but after six weeks, you’re likely to have made some stronger connections.
But no matter where on the spectrum you fall, it’s totally possible to live in an RV full time while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Advantages of RV Living
RV living is an alternative to the “normal” standard in our culture, which means some people will always disparage it or see it as a risk.
But as many dangers as some say RV living has, it has just as many benefits. When you’re traveling in a camper, you’re exposed to many more new people, places, foods, and ideas than someone who lives out their whole lives in their hometown.
And by taking a few conscious steps, you can ensure your RV lifestyle will stay healthy, no matter how often you’re on the go.
Here’s how to live in an RV full time while maintaining your sense of belonging and balance.
Healthy RV Living Tips
Looking for a healthy RV living guide?
Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks for maintaining a happy lifestyle on the road.
1. When you first set off, take it slow.
When you’re brand new to RV living, it’s natural that some things will come as a bit of a culture shock. There will be good shocks — like not having to pay the mortgage — and not-so-great ones, like realizing that when you’re always on the move, even simple tasks can become complicated.
For instance, where’s the best pizza place? What parts of town should you avoid? All of that knowledge comes only with spending extended time somewhere.
So when you transition to RV living, give yourself time and space to feel a little disoriented. You’ll learn your way around eventually — it’s all part of the adventure!
2. Prioritize quality over quantity of new destinations.
Trust me, we get it: There’s SO much out there to see and do! It can be tempting to immediately set off on a jam-packed, non-stop adventure
But one of the perks of permanent RV living is that travel’s a whole lot easier to attain now. And you’ll enjoy the travels you do take a whole lot better if you slow down and smell the roses.
Instead of spending a day or two in ten different cities, give yourself at least a week at each place you stop. You’ll be less stressed and actually experience more of the world around you. And that’s the point of traveling, right?
3. Work hard to maintain a regular routine… at least in some cases.
One of the cool things about living in an RV is that you’re kind of in your own time zone. Want to sleep until 11 a.m.? Ready for dinner before sunset?
Your schedule is totally up to you if you’re not beholden to an office’s or public school hours.
But as freeing as that can be, you’ll quickly discover that spending all day, every day in your pajamas will leave you feeling worn out and depressed. And no matter what time you do it, it’s always important to keep up with your exercise and fitness! You don’t need a gym to get sweaty; just lace up your shoes and go outside.
Even having simple everyday rituals — like a cup of coffee each morning — can help you feel grounded and stable. And since you’re on the move all the time now, those grounding moments are even more important.
4. Take advantage of your on-board kitchen.
One of the best things about RVing is that it allows you to keep eating healthy, home-cooked meals no matter where you travel.
Obviously, you’ll want to try some of the local delicacies at each of your destinations. But by cooking the majority of your meals at home, you’ll stay fit and healthy — and you’ll certainly save some money, too.
5. Remember: Full time RV living doesn’t mean full time vacationing!
Think about your attitude while you’re on vacation. Many of us throw caution to the wind, spending too much, eating too much, and paying little attention to our regular cares and responsibilities.
But full-time RVing is different. Although you enjoy the new places you see and people you meet, you quickly realize you can’t always be in “vacation mode.” When you live in a mobile home, traveling isn’t some sort of getaway — it’s your life! So if you want to stay healthy, you’ll have to learn how to adjust your budget, diet, and other regimes to fit this new way of living. (Trust me, it’s totally doable… and even kind of fun.)
RV Living Recipes
Now that we’ve walked you through some of the best ways to maintain your healthy living, check out these healthy RV recipes to cook during your journey!
Eating well is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy and energized. And that way, you can fully enjoy every second of your trip.
