Before last weekend, I hadn’t been camping in more than 10 years. I never really even thought about it, but when then opportunity to spend the weekend deep in the woods of Bloomington, Indiana presented itself, I jumped on it.

I’m a city girl, so I never thought I would come away from the experience so refreshed, energized and happy – but I did! It turns out that spending some time outside and getting back to basics was exactly what I needed as a busy college student.

I think it’s an experience that every college student needs at least once. Just in case you need some convincing, here are some reasons why:

1. No Phones = No Problems

According to a study conducted by Baylor University, college students spend an average of 8 to 10 hours a day on their cellphones, and more than 60% of them claim to be addicted to their cellphone. This study was done in 2014, so the figures are probably even higher now. But what do these numbers mean?

Well, physically, frequent cellphone use can be pretty harmful. One study printed in Surgical Technology International reported that constantly looking down at your cellphone screen could put harmful strains on your neck and back by placing pounds of pressure on the spine. Too much of this can lead to early wear and tear that could eventually end with a visit to the doctor, and even surgery.

Emotionally, this dependence on our phones means increased stress and negativity. That’s right, the thing that is supposed to make your life easier actually contributes stress. Another study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden in which researchers sought to find links between frequent cellphone use and stress levels, found that the combination of vibrations, alerts, ringing and bright screens contributed to sleep disturbance, stress and even depression in young adults.

Give your body and your brain a rest by unplugging for a weekend.

2. Fresh air means no worries.

So how can you bring your stress levels down? Ditch the cellphone for a little bit. Not only that, but head outside. Research has shown that swapping a weekend at the library or in bed for a weekend in nature can make you feel a lot better emotionally.

A meta-anaylysis of 10 different studies conducted in the UK examining the effects of doing activities outside, otherwise known as “green exercise,” found that getting outside can lead to better health, both short term and long term. After exposing the participants to acute outdoor activity, an increase in self-esteem and an overall better mood was observed in the majority of the group.

So taking some time to get outdoors and do some nature walking could make you feel better in the long run. It’ll put you in a better mood and give your self-esteem a little boost, and who doesn’t need that?

3. Relaxation is the best medicine.

According to the 2015 National College Health Assessment, approximately 30% of the students tested claimed that stress had negatively impacted their performance in school. What’s more, more than 85% of participants reported feeling overwhelmed by all of their work at least once during the school year. Clearly, us college students are a stressed-out bunch.

So wouldn’t it be so nice to just be able to ditch the work for a little bit and take some time for yourself to breath? Camping and spending some time in nature could be a great way to do that. Listening to the birds, smelling the fresh air, and hearing the crunch of leaves and dirt under your feet as you walk could provide a nice contrast to the computer screens, phone notifications and the never ending to-do lists you are used to focusing on.

Concentrating on yourself and appreciating the beautiful nature around you can help you realize that all of these problems and stressors that surround you in college are just a small chunk of this otherwise gorgeous world we live in.

4. Nature makes for a happier brain.

The reason us college students are so stressed out all of the time is because we are expected to be hard-working and attentive all of the time in everything we do. We need to complete all assignments, participate actively in class, ace all of our tests, be good friends, and partake in all of our extra circulars. And all the while we have to make sure a bus doesn’t hit us as we hurriedly bustle to our next destination.

All of this can put a big burden on our cognitive function, which can lead to mental fatigue. In a study conducted at Michigan University, researchers found that walking in nature for less than an hour led participants to perform significantly better in memory-related tasks. According to The Experience of Nature, a book by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, nature holds our attention moderately, thus allowing our brains to recover in a process called “Attention Restoration Therapy.” If this can happen in just 50 minutes, imagine how much happier your brain can be in a weekend!

5. Penny-pincher friendly.

Every college student is on a budget. Camping can give us the healing and relaxation we get from a vacation without draining our bank accounts.

Renting out a spot to set up a tent for the weekend can cost as little as $5-$15 a night depending on the site. You can buy a decent sized tent for less than $40. Next all you need is some hotdogs and marshmallows and you can have the relaxing getaway you deserve as a busy college student.

So if you do the math and factor in all of the good spending a weekend outside will do for you, there’s really no excuse to not break out your sleeping bag and hit the trails.