3 Practices for Adventure

Our annual backpacking trip last month was completely different than last year and did not disappoint because I returned even more clear about why I go: to experience a physical and mental challenge to learn more about myself. There is something about being totally self-sufficient in the mountains, carrying your food, water, and shelter on your back for 3 days that feels like a great adventure!

An adventure is an experience that features uncertain outcomes and exploration that pushes you past your comfort zone. It starts with our perspective, how we judge, frustrate, and even scare ourselves in experiences when we realize we don’t know what we don’t know. Here are 3 practices I re-learned on my latest adventure you can use to enrich any experience in your life.

Plan

The first thing to plan for is that planning, like all the practices, takes longer than you think, so add in some buffer time, even twice as much as you feel you need. Whatever research, spreadsheets, or anecdotal information you use to plan, hold it all lightly. You will encounter the unexpected with weather, bugs, other people’s opinions, and all the other things you have no control over. Planning for the unexpected helps you keep your perspective in the adventure.

Prepare

Besides making the lists and gathering all your necessary equipment for your adventure, it’s important to prep yourself as well. Preparing yourself means prioritizing activities to self-regulate before your adventure even starts in order to be as well-rested, hydrated and nourished as possible. It’s also important to actively rehearse for the event, whether it’s practicing out loud for a speech, reviewing a team meeting, or walking your neighborhood with a loaded pack before you actually get on the trail.

Ponder

After you plan and prepare, pondering supports you to stay present and curious during your adventure, creating the opportunity to learn and grow. It is also valuable for reflecting with the simple question, What did I learn? This question is not just for the technical aspects of a presentation, project, or backpacking trip, but more specifically asks, What did I learn about myself?

With your busy schedule full of competing priorities, it’s easy to quickly hit the next button after any experience. When you choose to see your event, project, or trip as an adventure, and include these practices, it will change it by enriching your growth, learning and well-being.