Vanlife: the ultimate embodiment of freedom and adventure. It’s the perfect escape from the monotony of everyday life, the ideal way to explore new places, and the ultimate test of your resourcefulness and ingenuity.
If you’ve found us you’ve probably already seen the pictures on instagram and need no more convincing, but we’ve pulled our list of the benefits of Vanlife together to scratch your confirmation bias itch.
There are challenges, don’t get me wrong, but we love living in the van, partly because we got to design it to be a perfect fit for our purpose but largely because of the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits it can allow.
Without further ado:
Freedom and Flexibility
- The ability to travel and explore new destinations at your own pace.
- The ability to change your plans on a whim.
- Live a location-independent lifestyle.
Cost-Effective
- Eliminates the need to pay for rent, utilities, and other living expenses associated with traditional housing.
- Often cheaper than traditional living.
Closer to Nature
- Living in a van allows you to be closer to nature.
- Opportunities for outdoor activities are in abundance.
- More sustainable lifestyle consuming and wasting less.
Minimalism
- Van life can lead to a minimalist lifestyle.
- Simplifies your life by reducing the clutter and material possessions that you have to worry about.
- Forces you to simplify your life, as you can only bring the essentials with you.
Enhanced Relationships
- Living in close quarters can lead to enhanced relationships and increased togetherness.
- Increased Sense of Freedom and Independence
- Living in a van gives you a sense of independence and control over your life.
- No set schedule, and the freedom to make your own choices about how you spend your time and where you go.
Community
- The van life community is a supportive and inclusive group of like-minded individuals who share a love for traveling and adventure.
- Opportunities for making new friends.
- A sense of camaraderie among those living the van life.
Self-discovery
- Living in a van gives you the opportunity to reflect on your life and priorities which could lead to a greater sense of self-awareness and self-discovery.
- Provides time and space for self-reflection, personal growth and learning.
Adventure
- Van life provides endless opportunities for adventure, exploration and fulfillment.
- Allows you to experience new and exciting things.
Practical Benefits
- The convenience of having everything one needs in a compact space, making it easier to manage and maintain.
- Can save money on a holiday, where you combine travel and accommodation into one (smaller) lump sum.
Improved Mental and Physical Health
- The slower pace of life associated with van life can lead to improved mental and physical health.
- Exposure to nature, and physical activity associated with van life can lead to improved mental and physical health.
- Reduced stress from traditional societal pressures (without getting too hippy on the subject)
Enhanced Creativity and Productivity
- Being in new surroundings and being forced to problem-solve while on the road can help enhance creativity and critical thinking.
- The change of scenery and lack of distractions can be conducive to creativity and productivity.
Greater Appreciation for Life’s Simple Pleasures
- Living in a van helps you appreciate and value the simple things in life, like a warm bed, fresh water and a good meal.
So, there you have it: the many benefits of van life. From the freedom to travel wherever your heart desires to the sense of tribe you get whilst waving to other van lifers on the road, there are many reasons why so many people are choosing to ditch the traditional lifestyle in favour of a life on wheels. If you haven’t already, you should check out the disadvantages of vanlife, through the lens of our experience, because it’s better to be put off now before you start than after you’ve spent countless hours on a van.
If you’re nothing but more inspired that’s great, there’s no limit to the incredible experiences you can have on your van life journey. Let’s continue along our yellow brick road to the next stage of your van conversion process.