Live a sustainable life
Jump into microadventures!
01.07.2021
Travel – and with it the opportunity for new experiences and adventures – has become a rare phenomenon during the pandemic. That being said, taking a break from our everyday routines is essential for our mental health. The good news is that you can also experience micro-format adventures on your doorstep.
Why do people love adventures? Because adventure is the antithesis of our regular, routine-driven lives. Adventures begin when you embrace the unexpected. In times of digitalization, it’s not so easy: For example, we already know in the morning when it’s raining in the afternoon. There’s an app for everything, and everything can be planned. As we all know, life begins outside of your comfort zone.
But what if you lack the time, money or opportunity to set out on your own great voyage of discovery? Good things are close at hand: no whole weekends spent in faraway lands – a few hours, a dash of courage and a sprinkling of creativity are all it usually takes to create a new experience, or to experience the familiar in a new, novel way.
Spontaneous, local and inexpensive
“Microadventure” is the name given to the trend of incorporating short-term changes of scenery into your everyday life. The definitions vary, but the general rule is that micro-adventures are spontaneous, do not require major planning or special equipment, do not require a lot of time or a long distance covered. What’s more, they cost little to nothing.
A change of scenery for the brain
Microadventures allow us to break up our daily routine, and therefore add a bit of variety to life’s otherwise set-in-stone routines. What’s more, such experiences “extend” our day: The sense of time stretches and the brain is stimulated with new impulses. The German motivational trainer Christo Foerster is therefore convinced: “In the end, the small adventures are perhaps even more valuable than the big ones, because with their help we can shape a new everyday life instead of constantly feeling like we have to escape it.”
Where can I start?
For Christo Foerster, the core of the microadventure idea lies in the question: “What can I start with today?“Accessing microadventures is easy: Doing things you’ve never done before or haven’t done for a long time. Go for a walk in the rain. Explore your surroundings without your mobile. It isn’t about doing spectacular things or breaking records, but giving your playful, adventurous side some room to breathe. Just go outside: the unknown is more likely to be waiting for you there. Here are a few initial ideas for you to try out.
Ideas…
You can find a wide range of inspiration for your microadventures on the internet and in a growing number of books and blogs. The most important equipment: Your appetite for new things. Christo Foerster says: “If we get it right, micro-adventures take us into the unknown – they challenge us and help us grow. We don’t have to go far or pack for the Himalayas: all we need is the right attitude.”
Do you have any ideas for microadventures? Post it as a comment or take part in our competition and win a Hotelcard voucher worth CHF CHF 500