How to Go on an Adventure (and Why You Should)

Even though I’m not what I’d consider an adventurous person, I can look back on all of my adventures with fondness and gratefulness. They’ve made me a better person (or helped me grow) in one way or another.

How to Go on an Adventure (and Why You Should)

Guest post by Maxie McCoy

Do you ever feel like you’re living the same version of a different day week after week and year after year? Whether it’s class or work, the monotony of the “every day” can seriously wreak havoc on your brain. Sometimes you just need a little something to look forward to or to spice up your otherwise dull routine.

Enter: adventures. (Which can be created on any day in any location because adventure is so much more of a mindset than it is a destination.) I think so often we look towards big vacations to save us from daily monotony, and we forget that there are fun adventures all around us waiting to be had.

And if you thought adventure seeking was just for the risk takers, thrill seekers, and main characters of fiction books, you’ve got it wrong. Reasons for adding a bit of it into your life are endless, but mainly adventures are normally made up of a few things: new experiences and the unknown – a recipe for uncertainty.

Recently, I booked a rather random trip to Alaska to chase the Northern Lights, which had been on my bucket list for years (and hallelujah they shined bright for me!). So I headed to the Arctic Circle in the dead of winter with no idea what -40 degrees would feel like much less how I’d enjoy any of the activities on my list. But I went– a bundle of nerves and all– into something that could have been the worst thing or the best thing. But the uncertainty took me out of my comfort zone and into a new world of wonder.

Chasing uncertainty, whether it’s day trip to the coast, an afternoon at the museum or a week long trip to the Arctic is the recipe for adventure. You end up meeting humans from all different walks of life, experiencing things totally new, and coming home with an expanded awareness that leaves you just a tad different than before.

We can all benefit from consistent adventures, some ideas on how to create more of it in your life:

Say YES. Opportunities come up all the time, but sometimes our safety zone gets the best of us. The next time you hesitate at an offer to go somewhere or see something, say yes.

Don’t wait for anyone else. While adventures can be SO fun with friends, you could be waiting forever if you waited for someone to join. Go with or without them, and often your passion for going will lead people to join you this time or next.

Make a Location List. While I don’t have a life bucket list, I do have travel list. Take some time to write down the top five places you’re dying to see. What you’ll notice is that this act of establishing your desire will pull the adventure closer to you.

Look up. If you’re constantly looking down, there’s so much you’ll miss including opportunities that could be so much fun and people who will make the experience. Eyes up, that’s where the adventure is.

Try something new. Adventures are more about experiences than they are about locations. So, look for a class, workshop, or park that could force you out of your norm and into something new.

No matter how far you go or for how long, getting out of your routine and into a new experience will open your mind and fill you with a bit of joy. It doesn’t have to be a huge effort, but simply looking for the places to add more adventure in your life will do just that.

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