Micro Adventures: Making the Most of Every Moment

Sometimes life can feel pretty hectic. I’ve always found it difficult trying to get the work life balance right, hence making so many changes in my life and trying different avenues. But for me, work has become just a means to an ends. I earn enough to live the way I want and still save, and it enables me to be where I want to be, and do the things I want to do.

In the past, I’ve been pretty terrible for wasting my time and letting days and evenings pass me by. Don’t get me wrong, we all need rest days and down time, it isn’t always a bad thing, but there’s a difference between resting and wasting time. I used to get in from work, make dinner and sit down in front of the tv. Some days we’d head around the village for a short walk, but that was it. It never left me feeling fulfilled. I’ve realised that I’m at my happiest when I’m out as much as possible, whether that’s up a mountain, on the water or just going for a run. I’ve therefore recently been trying to squeeze adventures into gaps that I’d usually fill with watching rubbish on netflix.

After Work Wild Camps

Camping was one of the things that I wanted to try and do a lot more of this year, but my initial response when I got asked if I wanted to go when finishing work at 9 and I was back in at 7 the next morning, was a resounding no. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I didn’t want to miss out on these kinds of opportunities.

After a bit of a discussion around logistics, the decision was made and my bag was packed (you can check out my camping kit list here). We decided to camp on Holme Fell, as it’s one that I’ve done before, it’s close by and not too high, so we knew we’d easily be able to get to the top before we lost the light.

Eating before we left meant less to carry, as well as less to do once we got to the top. We found a spot to pitch our tents, then heading up to the top of the fell. We spent the evening chatting about life, drinking hot chocolate and crying with laughter before retreating to our tents. The evening was warm and still, which brings an unbelievable sense of calm. A 4:30 alarm was set and the morning was spent in our sleeping bags, eating breakfast and watching the sun rise. Being able to watch both the sunset and the sunrise was pretty magical.

This was easily one of the best evenings/mornings I’ve had in a while, and it’s reminded me that adventures don’t have to be big.

Post Work Paddles and Picnics

Living so close to so many lakes, has made paddleboarding a quick and easy option for adventures at any time of day. One of my favourites recently was an evening paddle across Windermere, from Bowness to Wray. We stopped for a picnic, then paddled back just as the sun was setting. It was only a few km in total and didn’t take too long, but it was such a lovely evening.

I’ve started leaving my paddleboard in my car, so that it’s always on hand for those last minute adventures. I also love paddleboarding in the rain, especially in the summer. The other week we got caught in a torrential downpour, but with the warm air, there’s something pretty magical about it. Micro adventures don’t always have to be fair weather events!

More Micro Adventure Ideas…

There are plenty of things that you can squeeze into a busy day, and the more you do them, the easier they become. I’ve found now, especially with camping, that I stress less and just know what I need, so I can be ready and out the door in no time.

• Breakfast Picnic – If you have the time, why not head somewhere nice and sit and eat your breakfast outside? If you’re short on time, eat it in the garden. I always find something so calming about eating outdoors.

• Garden Camp – Not got the time to head up a fell or to a campsite? Why not just set your tent up in the garden for a closer to home micro adventure.

• Catch a Sunrise – They may be early at the moment, but that means it’s easier to squeeze in before work!

• Cook Dinner Outside – Not got time to go camping? Why not cook your dinner outside on a camping stove?

• Go Geocaching – Basically a massive outdoor treasure hunt. Download the app and navigate to a hidden geocache near you.

• Go for a Dip – There are some beautiful swim spots all over the country, and it doesn’t need to be a activity that takes a long time. I will often drive 10 minutes to a quiet spot on the Lake to go for a quick dip after work. You can check out my previous post on finding quieter swim spots here.

• Star Gazing – One of my favourite memories is laying in my back garden, by a fire and wrapped in blankets just watching the stars. It was the one and only time I’ve ever seen a shooting star. You don’t need to go anywhere, just make the most of a clear evening.

My advice to you is to make time for the things you enjoy, plan your life around them. Make the most of every moment and squeeze in those mini adventures.

Happy adventuring x