Stuck on a routine schedule? Ever asked someone, “What day is it?” Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Routines are often mundane and one day can blend in with the next. Hectic mornings lead to hectic afternoons carrying over into hectic nights. By the time the hectic schedule winds down, it is time to fall asleep and start over again in the morning. Don’t fall into a rut of uninspiring days. Step outside yourself, live in the moment and allow yourself to experience your own personal adventure.
An adventure doesn’t have requirements. It doesn’t need to be adrenaline packed, lavish, expensive, or grand. Each day can offer something different and exciting if you make some changes to your daily ritual so as not to alter the end result, but create a more exciting journey to achieving your daily tasks. These are micro-adventures.
Consider your route to work? How far is the trek? What are the elements involved? Think about the minutes of the day that you are not thinking. For example, can you remember what you were doing in the car on the way to work last Thursday? Probably, not…
Let’s change that! Last week I made a point to be present during every moment of my day – even my morning commute – to make my daily moments exciting and adventurous. I started my own micro-adventure experiment.
After reading a number of articles and blogs documenting others’ experience with creating their own micro-adventure, they certainly range in activity level. Micro-adventure stories have included spontaneous camp-outs, full moon hikes during the night, and even a ten-mile run instead of ten-mile commute to work! Hey! Whatever floats your boat!
Some prefer to take their Micro-adventures outdoors; other can create something in the comfort of their own car during a morning commute. Consider a pay it forward situation. When you come up with your own personal micro-adventure, write it down, share it with others, and it will certainly inspire an alteration in routine.
So back to my micro-adventure… last week on my commute to class (not sure if everyone knows, I’m attending University of Miami as an MBA candidate) I noticed a long line people waiting to get on the escalator. On any given day I would have usually taken the escalator but this was that day was different. I took it upon myself as a personal challenge to take the stairs everyday that week. By the time the week was over I really didn’t feel any different physically, but mentally, I felt much more accomplished because of all of the ‘crazy stares’ I got from everyone watching from the escalator.
It is scientifically proven that the brain releases dopamine to the body when people make unfamiliar choices. When stuck with the same decisions day-in and day-out, people are less likely to be satisfied with their day’s work. Adding a micro-adventure into your day can contribute to overall happiness and sanity during the mundane daily schedule.
Inspired by:
http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/
