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Summer has officially started, and today I’m kicking off a new string of posts—what I’m calling the Summer Microadventure Series. These posts will focus on small, achievable challenges and goals intentionally selected to help you have a more adventurous summer. If you’re feeling bored, stuck in a rut, worn out, or just want a jump start into living a more adventurous life, these microadventures are exactly what you need.
A quick note—if the voice in your head starts to say things like, “this is such a small thing, it won’t make a difference,” or, “this is a waste of time,” that’s resistance, or your inner critic talking. Ignore it, and do the thing anyway. The small task is exactly what you need: it’s such a little thing, there’s literally no reason why you can’t complete the goal, other than letting resistance get in the way.
This week, we’re getting started with something simple: taking a morning or evening walk.
Now I know what you’re thinking—you walk every day. You probably hit your step goal without fail, take a daily run, or walk the dogs before or after work. I understand.
But I want you to do something a little different with this particular walk. Be mindful. Don’t just put one foot in front of the other and move toward completion. That’s boring. Pay attention.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
How does the ground feel under your feet? How does the air feel on your skin? What thoughts wander into your mind and back out again?
This isn’t a walk to get somewhere in particular. This is a walk to help reset how you interpret experiences, however small and seemingly inconsequential. You can do this anytime you have the opportunity this week: before work, after you get home, during your lunch break, etc. The important thing is that you don’t rush through it. Take your time, experience the walk. If you can, try to go a few times this week.
You don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to walk all day. Just 15 minutes or so is plenty. It’s not about distance, it’s about taking the first small steps toward a more adventurous life. So go forth, and have fun.