Everyday microadventures to inspire living with intention
“Adventure is a loose word that means different things to different people. It is a state of mind, a spirit of trying something new and leaving your comfort zone. Adventure is about enthusiasm, ambition, open-mindedness and curiosity.”
updated: Jan. 2026
Small acts of awe to inspire intentional living
When I have something to look forward to I feel more grounded, happier, and noticeably less moody.
Just ask my husband.
Anticipation steadies me. It pulls me out of that suffocating, unproductive habit of wishing for the future instead of living in the moment. When there’s something on my calendar, even something small, I’m better able to be present, patient, and generous with the moment.
Big trips help. Knowing I’m going somewhere months from now can lift my mood for weeks. But I’ve learned something important over time. It works even better when I have something planned for tomorrow. Or Thursday. Or Sunday morning.
Not big. Not expensive. Not exotic.
Just perspective-shifting moments that interrupt routine and invite curiosity in.
That’s where microadventures come in.
What is a microadventure?
Microadventures, a term coined by British adventurer Alastair Humphreys, are short, local, low-cost activities that deliver a genuine sense of novelty and reward.
They are designed to help ordinary people get out there and do stuff without waiting for more time, more money, or more confidence. He explores these ideas more fully in Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes, a book that has inspired thousands to rethink what adventure can look like close to home.
Urban camping. Night hikes. Foodie explorations. Beachcombing. Local challenges.
I love that Humphreys names the barriers most of us quietly carry. Time. Money. Energy. Confidence. If travel were free and effortless, you’d probably never see me again. But real life is real life.
Microadventures make adventure accessible. And more importantly, repeatable.
They remind us that awe doesn’t require a boarding pass.
A note on fun (and discomfort)
I was first introduced to the concept of Type 1 and Type 2 fun on the Books and Travel Podcast (one of my favourites), where Humphreys was a guest and described:
Type-1 fun as fun in the moment. e.g. Eating cheese. Drinking gin. Laughing. Or whatever you enjoy.
Type-2 fun as miserable while you’re doing it, but deeply satisfying in retrospect. e.g. Long hikes. Marathons, Challenges that stretch you.
Alastair is a Type 2 fun addict. He has cycled around the world, walked across India, rowed the Atlantic.
I am… not.
My preference for fun is somewhere in the middle.
Knowing this about myself has been incredibly freeing. It helps me design microadventures that feel memorable and positive rather than punishing.
For me, that looks like:
trying a fancy cocktail recipe,
star gazing on a clear night,
learning to fly fish,
hiking in search of spring waterfalls,
solo long distance walking not far from home!
One particularly memorable microadventure involved sourcing local seafood, craft beer and cooking paella over a beach fire with friends.
Highly intentional and full of awe.
Microadventure ideas to spark your own
Here’s a shortlist to get you thinking:
Sleep under the stars in your backyard
Go for a night hike with headlamps
Have a wilderness picnic
Swim wild in a river, lake or ocean
Grab a map, close your eyes, point, and go
Climb a local mountain or find a viewpoint
Sign up for something that requires training or practice
Try the alphabet dinner challenge. Choose a restaurant by random letter or go through the alphabet in order.
If you’re thinking, I like these, but I want guidance, that’s exactly why I created Field Guides inside The Travel Lab. They offer structure without rigidity, invitation without pressure.
And yes… I have more ideas. Keep reading.
How about a pizza picnic by the river?
Simple doesn’t always mean easy
A good friend once shared that staying close to home feels uninspiring. As travel lovers, we crave contrast.
Culture. Climate. Architecture. Food.
Home comes with habits, distractions and old stories. It’s hard to feel like you’re on an adventure when the laundry is waiting.
I get it.
Seeing home with fresh eyes requires intention, effort, and sometimes a willingness to be mildly uncomfortable.
But here’s the thing. Microadventures offer many of the same brain-boosting benefits as travel. Novelty disrupts mental ruts. Curiosity restores aliveness. Awe expands perspective.
This is why I teach that travel and wellbeing fuel each other. You don’t need to leave your life to feel more alive in it.
When you need a nudge
Sometimes it helps to let someone else decide.
I love using prompt-based tools that introduce randomness, surprise and perhaps nudge me outside my comfort zone. One of my favourites is a simple card deck with unexpected travel-inspired prompts. Pull one. Follow it. See what happens.
A few I’m drawn to lately:
Go to a café and order the third and twelfth things on the menu
Take a walk with a wish in your pocket. Leave it somewhere
Find the highest point in your city on foot. Enjoy the view.
Try sensory explorations. I wrote an article about it here full of ideas (like shadow hunting, and soundscape recording!)
If you love prompt-based exploration, I share these kinds of practices inside The Travel Lab. They bypass overthinking and invite embodied action.
“The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions”
Ellen Glasglow
Not ready for a microadventure? Start smaller.
If the idea of a microadventure feels too much, start with what I call a nano adventure!
A shift in perspective.
A deliberate pause.
A new way of noticing.
Practice seeing your world differently, and adventure follows naturally. This is the heart of living with intention.
Adventure is worthwhile in itself.
Amelia Earhart
Ready to go deeper?
If this way of living resonates, here are a few options to consider:
The Travel Lab: A space for women ready to live with more curiosity, courage, and awe. It includes a free library of resources and a selection of field guides designed to bring adventure and intention into everyday life
1:1 Coaching: For women craving clarity around what’s next, and how to move toward it
