Sometimes the biggest barrier to getting out is just a complete lack of motivation. I’m terrible for it. There have been so many occasions where I’ve wanted to get out, but lack of planning, anxiety about parking, not wanting to go by myself etc. stop me. So I thought I’d put together a list of things which really help me to get out on the days when I might not be fully feeling it.
1. Having a List of Places to go
On those rainy days or when you really don’t fancy getting out, why not make a list of places you want to go, so then when you’re in the mood you can just pick somewhere off your list. There are so many ways to find inspiration of places to go, both near and far. Instagram is a really easy way, search for tags or certain areas and save posts of places people have been that look like somewhere you might want to go.
Books can also be a great source of inspiration for places to go. I absolutely love the Wild Guide books (my favourite being the Wild Swimming guide), they have them for so many different places and include hikes, swim spots, food and so much more! Blogs and youtube videos are also a really easy way to discover new and exciting places to go.
I plan a lot of my hikes on the komoot app. I love looking at an area and going through the ‘highlights’ and planning my own route to incorporate the bits that look interesting to me. Having a bank of these saved makes it easier to find a route when I might not be in a planning mood, or have much time.
2. Having Adventure Buddies
Having people to adventure with really helps motivate me to get out. Don’t get me wrong, solo adventures are great too, but sometimes you just need that little extra push. Having a set plan with people can mean you’re less likely to cancel or having someone you can text last minute when you get the urge to get out but need a little extra boost . I love spending an evening making plans with friends, brainstorming where you want to go and plotting routes. You can check out my blog post on how I found my adventure buddies here.
3. Have the Basics
Having the right basic kit can make the difference between getting out or not. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes! Having a good pair of boots and waterproofs means that you can head out even if the heavens open.
Having kit doesn’t have to be expensive, check out my post on adventuring on the cheap for some idea’s on how to start building up your kit on a budget.
4. Photography
Often when you’re out in nature, you’ll find some amazing views and landscance. Finding beautiful scenery to take photos of and having a collection of these kinds of shots to look back on can be a real motivator to get you outside again. I adore looking through other peoples photos, and scrolling through my own and reliving those moments of pure contentment when you’re stood on top of a mountain or in a beautiful pool.
I am certainly no photography expert (though it is something I want to spend more time learning), but I still get so much pleasure from taking photos and trying to capture moments.
5. Be Prepared
One of the things that I find works best for me, is preparing everything the night before. I’ll find my route, figure out where I need to park, pack my bag and lay my clothes out ready. This means that in the morning all I need to do is get up and go. This is especially helpful on the adventures where you’re travelling a bit further afield, or wanting to get out for sunrise and need to leave in the early hours of the morning!
Parking is something that causes massive anxiety for me (I have no idea why). I will always get on google maps before heading out to make sure that I know exactly where I’m going, if and how I need to pay and a back up car park.
I’m also a massive list lover, I write them for everything. An evening before an adventure I’ll always make sure I’ve got a list of everything I need to take with me so that I can check it off in the morning. I’ve found if I don’t do this then I struggle to sleep, as I have all the things I need to remember rushing around my head.
6. Food
For those who don’t know, I love food. Eating is one of my favourite hobbies. Why not plan your walk around going to a certain pub or cafe. There are some great walking books with routes focussed solely around pubs (such as ‘Walks to the Best Pubs in the Peak district). Or, if you don’t want to spend lots, you could just prepare a really nice picnic (for epic adventure sandwich inspiration, check out @nicky.walks on instagram!)
7. Setting Yourself a Challenge
Having a challenge to work towards and making it public is a really good way to motivate yourself. It could be to go for a walk or a dip everyday for a month or visit a new place every week. There are tons of hiking challenges that you can sign up to online, or even find a charity event or race. It can also give you a massive sense of achievement when you complete your challenge and can help to turn those things into more of a habit!
Hopefully some of these tips help you get out on your next adventure when you’re lacking a bit of motivation! Let me know in the comments what else helps to motivate you to get out.
Happy adventuring x
Lisa Outdoors 
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