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Easy Ways to Find Adventure in Your Every Day
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As we get older, it’s easy to fall into the work-gym-sleep hamster wheel where every day feels the same. The monotony of adulthood can be draining, and often it leaves us asking: is this all worth it?
But, finding adventure in our lives doesn’t need to happen only when we escape on exotic trips (or let’s be honest, while scrolling through our phones). It’s really important for us as human beings to spend time exploring and engaging in creativity— for our health and longevity.
As a conscious decision-making coach and wellness entrepreneur, I’ve figured out some of the most effective ways to get moving and start exploring in your own backyard.
Here are my four simple, low-cost (mostly free!) ways to find adventure on the regular:
Get some fresh air.
Did you know that nowadays the majority of us spend 93% of our time indoors? Being outside and breathing in the fresh air actually has the power to shift our brains and invigorate our perspective. In Japan, there’s a national program called Forest Bathing to encourage residents to spend more time outside for their health. So, ask yourself truthfully: when was the last time you took a deep breath of fresh air? And take your movement into nature—whatever that looks like for you.
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Get some fresh air.
Did you know that nowadays the majority of us spend 93% of our time indoors? Being outside and breathing in the fresh air actually has the power to shift our brains and invigorate our perspective. In Japan, there’s a national program called Forest Bathing to encourage residents to spend more time outside for their health. So, ask yourself truthfully: when was the last time you took a deep breath of fresh air? And take your movement into nature—whatever that looks like for you.
Take yourself on an inspiration date.
Julia Cameron, the author of ‘The Artist’s Way,’ talks about the importance of engaging in creativity daily. One of the ways she recommends doing this is taking yourself on an “Inspiration Date.” A lot of times when we get stuck in our mundane routines, our lives become devoid of creativity. So, make a commitment to yourself to shift your perspective at least once a week. Maybe go on a walk in a new neighborhood. Meditate in a park near your house. No matter what it is, set aside time for yourself (even if that means marking it on your calendar!) to get inspired and recharged.
2
Take yourself on an inspiration date.
Julia Cameron, the author of ‘The Artist’s Way,’ talks about the importance of engaging in creativity daily. One of the ways she recommends doing this is taking yourself on an “Inspiration Date.” A lot of times when we get stuck in our mundane routines, our lives become devoid of creativity. So, make a commitment to yourself to shift your perspective at least once a week. Maybe go on a walk in a new neighborhood. Meditate in a park near your house. No matter what it is, set aside time for yourself (even if that means marking it on your calendar!) to get inspired and recharged.
Shift your sweat routine.
One of my favorite ways to feel adventurous is to change up my workout routine. If I’ve been obsessed with yoga for a few months, I’ll try to head to a boxing class or go on a run with a friend. It’s easy to treat moving our body like another thing we have to check off our list. But, what if you could use it as a form of releasing stress and recharging your internal battery instead? Brainstorm some new classes or types of movement you want to explore and don’t overthink it—just get out there!
3
Shift your sweat routine.
One of my favorite ways to feel adventurous is to change up my workout routine. If I’ve been obsessed with yoga for a few months, I’ll try to head to a boxing class or go on a run with a friend. It’s easy to treat moving our body like another thing we have to check off our list. But, what if you could use it as a form of releasing stress and recharging your internal battery instead? Brainstorm some new classes or types of movement you want to explore and don’t overthink it—just get out there!
Connect with another human IRL.
Sadly enough, over 70% of Americans consider themselves lonely. At the same time, we spend on average 24 hours a week on technology, engaging in “low-quality leisure,” often by ourselves. It doesn’t take much to ask a friend to coffee or go on a hike with a coworker. Humans are social creatures, and engaging in deep regular connection allows us to get outside of our busyness bubble and put things in perspective.
4
Connect with another human IRL.
Sadly enough, over 70% of Americans consider themselves lonely. At the same time, we spend on average 24 hours a week on technology, engaging in “low-quality leisure,” often by ourselves. It doesn’t take much to ask a friend to coffee or go on a hike with a coworker. Humans are social creatures, and engaging in deep regular connection allows us to get outside of our busyness bubble and put things in perspective.
As a San Francisco transplant, I try to take advantage of the calm nature and literal jungles that are at our doorstep. After moving here from the hustle and bustle of New York City, the ability to get outside and be surrounded by nature is still astonishing to me.
Some of my favorite places to explore in the Bay Area are:
• Changing my scenery and going on at urban hike at Mount Sutro
• Climbing the hills of Mount Diablo
• Soaking in the views at Bernal Heights
• Relaxing by the ocean at Muir Beach
• Walking through the wildflowers in Half Moon Bay
• Meditate in the botanical gardens
• Go for a run along the water near Fort Mason (and stop at the Sunday Farmer’s Market afterward!)
No matter what your version of adventure looks like, use this as inspiration to get outside, move your body, and shift your perspective.
5
As a San Francisco transplant, I try to take advantage of the calm nature and literal jungles that are at our doorstep. After moving here from the hustle and bustle of New York City, the ability to get outside and be surrounded by nature is still astonishing to me.
Some of my favorite places to explore in the Bay Area are:
• Changing my scenery and going on at urban hike at Mount Sutro
• Climbing the hills of Mount Diablo
• Soaking in the views at Bernal Heights
• Relaxing by the ocean at Muir Beach
• Walking through the wildflowers in Half Moon Bay
• Meditate in the botanical gardens
• Go for a run along the water near Fort Mason (and stop at the Sunday Farmer’s Market afterward!)
No matter what your version of adventure looks like, use this as inspiration to get outside, move your body, and shift your perspective.
Fitness
Why I’m Stoked Surfing Will Debut in the Olympics
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For the first time ever, the globe will be watching surfing take center stage at the 2020 (postponed to July 2021) Olympics. People from all over the world will be appreciating the sport, many for the first time.
This symbolizes the surfing community breaking through centuries of negative stereotypes. Though conditions play a big part in the sport, the biggest hurdle the athletes will have to overcome to see success is mental. The winner will be the one who chooses their waves wisely with their understanding of the conditions and ability to intimidate and therefore overcome components. Meanwhile, they will be challenging themselves to emerge from crashing barrels, fly into the air, and land on the shifting surface gracefully. No big deal.
You’ve probably heard the invention of a wave pool, which creates the perfect man-made wave. In 2007, Kelly Slater founded his wave company with a passion to build the perfectly rideable wave at his surf ranch. It was debated whether the Olympics should be held in the ocean or on a manufactured wave, with many differing opinions on what would be right. The decision was made, and the event will take place in the sea, at Tsurigasaki Beach in Japan, about 40 miles east of Tokyo, where the rest of the 2021 games will be hosted.
As you watch, take a moment to reflect on the century of effort for this to happen. This initiative can be traced all the way back to the 1912 summer games that took place in Stockholm. Duke Kahanamoku, known as the father of modern surfing, won three gold medals in swimming, and while accepting his medal, he expressed that it was his dream to see surfing be added. To add fuel to the fire, International Surfing Association, recognized as the surfing world's governing authority by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), began lobbying for the inclusion of surfing in the Olympics in 1955.
The magic of surfing
Surfing is a multidimensional sport unlike any other. Nothing compares to paddling out to the serene silence that awaits beyond the breaking waves. Once you get out there, you immediately escape the many annoyances ingrained in everyday life—the constant notifications on your phone and laptop, your back-to-back schedule, answering to other people. You’re no longer on the time that your watch reads, you’re on mother nature’s time. You’re also no longer in control of your surroundings. Now, all you can do is surrender and wait for the next set to come, while trying to position yourself for when it does.
The high from catching the perfect wave is so addicting that surfers would fail on one hundred in a row just to catch that one. After you catch that perfect one, you replay it in your mind for the rest of the day.
A successful session is reliant on so many factors of mother nature—a force way bigger than us. For ideal conditions to exist, a good-sized swell must approach from the right direction, the wind must be flowing offshore, and you have to time your session right with the ebb and flow of the tide.
The sport is always teaching you life lessons. It is humbling, even if you’ve been practicing it for many years. One reason why it takes so long to master is that the conditions are going to be different every time you get out there. You might have caught a million yesterday, but today makes you feel like a kook because you can’t land one decent wave.
The community of people that you become a part of when you surf is special. A shared obsession with the ocean that brings you to dive into the water at dawn to get a session in bonds you quick. When you’re out there, you’ll find yourself interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds. People enjoy sharing the stoke of the sport. When you see someone out there teaching somebody new, you’ll encounter them cheering at the top of their lungs when they catch a good wave, and as you look around, you’ll see smiles all across the lineup. The other day, I caught a long wave in to be met with a cheering crowd of locals who frequent the spot that I do. When I got to shore, a local showed me their secret stash of hot packs to access in case I, or someone else, gets stung by a stingray when they aren’t around.
Being out in the ocean and abiding by her rules gives surfers a deep love and connection to nature. It’s common to see sea animals out there, like dolphins, stingrays, and fish. When you have an encounter, it’s a reminder that we are invading their territory. It sucks when you see trash floating in the water, or on the sand in its route to the water. It’s a sad reminder of the negative impact that humans can have on natural environments. It inspires you to pick up trash and advocate for sustainability so that we, as a collective, can take care of the beauty that we are lucky to have access to.
Tune in to see surfing break into the biggest international sporting event in the world beginning on Saturday, July 24th.
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