Why you need to start embracing microadventures

I’m lucky to say that my whole life has been filled with microadventures. Be that spontaneous afternoon’s exploring the Lake District, foodie day’s out, or picnics by the sea.

When I was younger, we’d have fun, little expeditions which would leave you feeling excited and content. I used to have school holiday’s filled with them and I still try to get out and have my little exploration days and weekends.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to embrace every moment we can. Staycations and UK vacations are all the rage, but we don’t have to be booking all of our holidays in one go.

We can have microadventures weekly, even daily. I believe adventure is a state of mind, and we can find joy and adventure in the smallest of moments.

A book that I go back to time and time again is Departures by Anna Hart. It’s a book that really resonated with me and I’ve recommended it to so many people.

Anna writes a bit about micro-adventures which really resonated with me. She writes about how adventures are more a state of mind rather than the massive three-month backpacking treks around Asia (don’t get me wrong, I’d LOVE to do that but right now, it just isn’t possible). A quote that resonated with me was this;

“Adventures can be swift, they can be small and they are most definitely subjective”

I just loved this outlook on adventure. 

I’m the type of person who will say they’ve been on an adventure when, in reality, I’ve just been on a dog walk and maybe taken a slightly different route to normal. I’ve even been on an adventure if I’ve tried a different coffee shop. But isn’t that what life’s about – new experiences.

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SO, WHAT ARE MICROADVENTURES?

Alastair Humphreys, who coined the term microadventure, says;

“A microadventure is an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap — yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding,”

Alastair Humphreys, The Manual.com

To me, microadventures are about exploring. They’re about trying new things and being excited about things.

I’m lucky to live 20 minutes from the Lake District. A lot of my microadventures involve heading to a lake with my friends and with my dog. I go most weekends with my family and even see that as a little adventure sometimes. 

Microadventures are subjective. If something feels like an adventure to you then you’re already on an adventure!! It’s simple really!

Why is adventure so important?

For me, adventure and exploring feed the soul. It helps clear my mind, you experience new things, meet new people. You can gain new perspectives, expand your comfort zone, and have a lot of fun.

Experiences are what make us human. Experiences are what make us all unique. And finding ways to embrace the core of adventure, and what it means to us, will help us live happier and healthier lives.

13 IDEAS FOR YOUR NEXT MICROADVENTURE

1. Go to the circus 
   A few years ago, the circus came to town and my mum randomly went and got tickets. It was a beautiful sunny day and it felt like such an adventure. It was one of those magical summer evenings!
2. Have a picnic 
   Eating outside with a picnic is always fun. One of my favourite things to do in the summer is get my friends together and go to the lake with a massive picnic. It’s always so much fun!
3. Water Water Water 
   There’s something about going to open waters which feel like an adventure. I’m not a very good swimmer so open water swimming probably isn’t the best idea for me but if it’s you’re type of thing it is a perfect adventure! There’s nothing I love more than taking my uncles kayak out on Ullswater and seeing the lake and the scenery from a different perspective.
4. Explore a different part of your home town 
   You’ll have heard the term be a tourist in your own town and this is totally it. There’s nothing more adventurous than exploring somewhere you already know and seeing it in a completely different light.
5. Sleep under the stars 
   I love stargazing and I would love to sleep under the stars. There is something so magical and adventurous about the thought of sleeping under the stars. I’d definitely download that app which shows you what all the different stars are!
6. Go on a hike 
   I’m a country girl and live in the lakes so I’ve definitely done a fair few walks in my time! The feeling of completing a walk is indescribable, you feel so fulfilled (and tired and hungry too!) and it’s such an adventure. You never know what you’re going to see and find and every walk is completely different.
7. Go to the beach 
   I love going to the beach and there the perfect place to go on an adventure whether it’s to try paddle boarding, having a picnic or open swimming; there’s so much adventure to have!
8. Have a food crawl 
   This is a personal favourite of mine. I love exploring places through the medium of food – you can learn so much about a place through their cuisine.
9. Road Trip 
   The grandaddy of adventures has to be the road trip and there’s a reason; they’re so much fun! The adventure doesn’t begin when you get to the place, it’s about how you get there too. Make your detours fun and your snack and fuel stops an adventure. Stock up on fun foods and a banging road trip playlist and make your journey an adventure too.
10. Go on a photography walk 
    Whether it’s an organised photo tour or you just take yourself on one, photography walks make you look at the world a little differently and I always find myself looking at little details. You see places in a different light and they’re fun as well. 
11. Hire a boat 
    I’ve done this with friends on our picnics; hired a boat to go on the lake. We laughed so much when we did this and found out we’re probably not the best rowers.
12. Try a different type of activity 
    Trying something new always feels like an adventure. Something I really want to try is paddle boarding because it looks really fun. Maybe you want to try scuba diving or learn something new? Adventures can be all shapes and sizes.
13. Go somewhere new 
    Another classic way to have an adventure – go somewhere completely new! There’s nothing more fun that going to a new place and getting to discover it for the first time.

I’d love to hear about your microadventures in the comments below!