How to Add More Adventure to Your Life
A trip to Disney World, swimming with dolphins, tubing down the Comal River, two-stepping in a saloon, sledding in the snow, three live concerts, hiking a mountain to see the sunrise, donating to charity, trying something new, doing something scary.
This is just a small list of what I accomplished in a year back in 2016. And I’ve been doing similar and even more so every year since.
People make a lot of comments about how much I do, all the adventures I go on, and the fact that I’m ALWAYS doing something new. And it’s true. I pack a lot into my days, months, and years.
But anyone can!
If you LOVE adventure, but maybe you don’t know how to do all those things you want to, or don’t feel like you have the time or the means to do it – then this is the post for you!
I’ve always loved adventure, but in the years prior to 2016, I sort of just let life “happen” to me. When my ex and I had a little free time, we’d figure out something fun to do – maybe a trip to the lake or a family hike somewhere.
We had some fun, but it seemed like most days for filled with just work, and downtime was filled with TV or movies to pass the time.
But a life full of fun requires intention.
Here is how I switched from letting things just happen for me, to taking control of my days and choosing when and how much adventure I’d have in my life.
I started writing it down: I read The Success Principles by Jack Canfield in 2015, and there is a chapter where he challenges you to make a list of 100 things – big and small – that you want to accomplish within a certain timeframe. The idea is that once you write these things down on paper, your brain goes to work to figure out ways to accomplish them. You will start to do these things on the list even within the first 24 hours.
I started doing this at the beginning of each year. I write out 100 things, big and small, that I want to accomplish in the year, and then I revert back to this list several times throughout the year to gage where I’m at and remind myself of what I haven’t done yet.
My list includes all sorts of things – big trips, weekend trips, day trips, date ideas, small acts of kindness, business goals, personal development goals, you name it.
This sets mega intention around what you want to do in a year. It’s huge. This one thing has made such a big difference in my life personally!
Put it in the planner! Don’t have a planner? Well, it’s time to invest in one! Once I’ve got my list of 100, I go through my calendar and get a general idea about when I can do all these things. Doing this shows you that you DO have time. You just have to be intentional with that time. So jot it down. If you can put things on exact dates, then do it, if not, make a note in a general timeframe to remind yourself what you want to do then.
Once I have something in my planner, it’s more than likely going to happen.
Commit to the adventure. There will come a time when you come to a timeframe where you had planned an adventure, and when you get there, you just don’t feel like doing it. Somedays, sitting around the house just sounds like more fun! Or we tell ourselves about all the laundry that needs to be done or the house that needs cleaning.
Well, guess what?
You are certainly allowed to stay home. Sometimes that’s necessary. But this is the time when you really need to evaluate your priorities and goals. There was a time that I had scheduled taking my daughter to the zoo. I had worked all week, was pretty tired, and a day vegging out at home sounded like a much better plan. Not to mention my 6 year old was moping around the house, wanting to watch cartoons all day rather than go anywhere. Me too, girl. Me too.
I had to step back and really evaluate the situation and decide what my priorities would be that day. I realized quickly that a day at the zoo was exactly what we needed. We’d both been working and in school, and rather than zoning out in front of a TV and phone, we needed to get out of the house and have some fun! Sometimes it takes some work and effort in order to get to the FUN.
But it’s so worth it.
We ended up having a great day. We took a lot of photos, ate fun food, connected, and recharged for the week ahead.
And guess what?
The laundry still got done, the house still got cleaned, and we both still got plenty of rest for the week ahead.
Intention, intention, intention. When people ask how I fit some much into my life, this is my answer. Anyone can do it. You don’t have to have tons of money or time. You have to have tons of intention.
What’s important to you?
What memories do you want to have with your family? Do you want memories of game nights at home? Do you want camping trips and hikes outdoors on the weekends? Do you want trips to the mall with your teens? Do you want date nights and connection with your spouse? Do you want to try that dance class at the gym? Do you want to pick up a new hobby?
Write it down, plan it, and then hold yourself accountable to making it happen.
You won’t want to do it when the time comes. Our brains like comfort and adventure and new things can be a little uncomfortable at first. And new adventures take time. But this is when you decide what you really want, and you make it happen.
You’ve got this. There’s a whole life out there waiting for you to embrace it.
xoxo,
Liz