Enjoy a sense of adventure despite lockdown

I don’t know about you but as this strange COVID time wears on, my need for adventure seems to grow.

Like a caged bird, I want out. In the same way, all wild animals are born to be free, so are you and I. No matter what logic there is to stay inside, protect the NHS, or to limit our travel, when a sense of wanderlust is a part of you, it’s not easy to switch off.

How do we get our need for adventure met despite current restrictions? Is the need for adventure a first world problem or a natural way of being?

I’ve been having lots of wonderful conversations on this topic with friends over the last few weeks who share a similar passion for adventure and travel. 

In this blog, I share some insights and ideas to enjoy a sense of adventure even during more challenging times. 

When did the desire for adventure start?

I can’t remember a time when curiosity and wanderlust were not part of my being. I wonder if that’s because as human beings we weren’t made to be cooped up in houses, offices and all the trappings of modern life we usually enjoy.

Through most of our evolution, human beings lived far more ‘primitive’ yet more natural lives than we have over the last few centuries. Like every other species, we are part of nature.

Isn’t our need to be at one with nature and going on walkabout part of who we all are naturally? It certainly seems to be for indigenous people who are still living lifestyles closer to their roots. Our ancestors are likely to have been nomadic too. 

Yet as a species over the last few hundred years we’ve created social constructs to tame us. Many have become so trapped by the temptations of capitalism, some feel it’s hard to break free. 

Are you living the adventurous life you’d love to live?

Igniting a spark for adventure

Some of my fondest memories were waiting eagerly for my dad to return home from his travels. He worked abroad much of the time and I remember the welcome home hugs, presents (of course), and sitting on his knee learning different languages. As a teenager, I was fortunate to join him on a couple of trips which opened my eyes to different ways of life in Germany and ignited my desire to travel. 

As a young child, most of our holidays were spent at my grandparents together with a huge brood of aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. Family holidays were wonderful times I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

Especially the day-trips out with my gran, travelling around historical sites in Ayrshire, London, and Berkshire. Plus of course visiting Paddington Bear (at Paddington Station, London) who I’m sure was hugely responsible for my wanderlust!

My gran was my best friend, rock, and an exceptional storyteller. I loved hearing about her life adventures – growing up in Edinburgh during the war (which she later wrote a book about), of her travels around the countryside, and of her favourite places and experiences when she escaped from cruise ships. The most entertaining stories related to her wicked streak being put to good use such as putting aniseed down on neighbouring land to sabotage local fox hunts. She also inspired me with stories of strong adventurous women fighting for equality and exploring the world. 

Adventure and travel as a way of life

Given my childhood, it’s not surprising that my number one passion to this day is travel. Since 1991 I’ve spent several years backpacking around the world, I set up one of the UK’s first travel clubs in 1994, I’ve volunteered regularly in Rwanda and earlier this year lead a group on a trip to visit a school we’d raised funds to build in Cambodia. 

Travelling feeds my soul and makes me feel alive. It gives me a much broader perspective on different cultures and global issues. 

Backpacking gave me the confidence to discover who I am when I’m not living to others’ expectations.  I still love just turning up, speaking to locals, and working how where to go next without too much planning. 

Leaning into overseas charitable projects helped me turn becoming involuntarily childless into an opportunity as I write about <HERE>.

Travelling is very much part of our retirement plans.  I imagine living and working remotely as we explore new places together. 

However, overseas travel has been put on hold at the moment, personally and business-wise. Strangely, I feel no desire to travel abroad other than for my next school building project to Lombok and Bali in 2022. 

But, my desire for adventure is very much still alive.

Is now the time for local adventures?

I can’t remember any other time when I’ve not been dreaming of faraway places or planning another trip. 

Yet the combination of not wanting to travel during current restrictions and my desire to reduce my long-distance travel for environmental reasons is nudging me in another direction. 

It feels like time to be exploring places nearer to home. How do you feel?

How do we redefine adventure?

Most definitions of adventure include words such as new, unusual, exciting, and dangerous journeys or series of events. But what drives our need for adventure?

For me, it’s the desire and curiosity to discover new places, experience new things, and often to connect with different types of people. Yes, I’ve usually related this to overseas travel but of course, that doesn’t need to be the case. 

We can lean into the adventure of life every day. Dancing through the days with love, compassion, and curiosity in our hearts. Some adventures may have an element of danger but as a natural wimp, I don’t feel the need for danger to be present. 

Having spent so much time in the comfort of my home, hotels, offices, restaurants, and pubs I’m keen to spend more time enjoying simpler outdoor alternatives. Such as bonfires, walks with a friend on the beach rather than a cuppa in a cafe, and campervan trips. 

What would a more adventurous home-based life look like?

A few weeks ago my husband and I decided to start going on weekly adventures. It’s lovely having more time working from home together but we both feel we need to escape too.  We’re also exploring the idea of getting a campervan, so this is a good way to decide whether embarking upon more frequent trips around the UK and Europe is for us. 

We’ve had a wonderful few weekends – visiting coastal villages, walks, castles and woods we’ve not been to before. We plan where we’re going the day before, make a picnic, pack what seems like an increasing range of items for our all-weather trips then get in the care and go.

But it’s not just days out that make a difference. There are many other ways to introduce adventure into our lives nearer to home. 

Some ideas…

Here are some of the things I’m doing to enjoy a sense of adventure despite Covid lockdown:

• Make adventure part of every day – ask yourself, how could I be more adventurous today? How could I be more adventurous in my approach to life or work? My ebook 101+ Ways to Create a Joyful Life of Meaning Vitality and Impact Over 40 is packed with ideas. 

• Plan regular adventures with family and friends – share the joy! There are plenty of more exciting ways to get together rather than simply visiting them at home, going to a pub, restaurant or cafe. That said, I do love finding a homely coffee shop at the end of a walk. 

• Embark upon a new journey in your life – there are many different types of journeys we can embark upon. e.g. learn something new, advance existing skills, take up a new hobby, re-train for a new career, set up in business, move to a new area, or commit to your personal/spiritual development. 

• Read books about adventures, travel, or different cultures – books often spark ideas. For our holiday next year, we’re hoping to do the campervan trip to the Outer Hebrides that was cancelled this year. The planning with guidebooks and making picture maps, has been quite an adventure in itself. 

• Watch Youtube videos, films, and travel shows – there are many incredible films, documentaries, and homemade films off the main terrestrial TV and mainstream platforms. 

• Check out adventure travel websites, blogs, magazines, and brochures – one of my favorite activities. Just recently a friend and I had great fun flicking through QuirkyCampers.com. 

• Follow adventure travel hashtags or influencers on social media – we may not be able to physically travel at the moment but gorgeous photos in our news feeds are always good to wet our appetite. 

Future adventures

I’m not sure what the future holds but I am excited to have re-connected to that sense of adventure despite lockdown restrictions. I no longer feel caged or as though my wings have been clipped.

Business-wise, I do intend to start running retreats next year although these are likely to mainly be in Scotland other than my Lombok/Bali trip as I honour my desire to reduce my environmental footprint.

What about you?

What are you thinking of doing to feed your soul’s desire for adventure?

I’d love to hear. Please do comment below. 

With love,

Often described as one of the most authentic and inspiring souls you can meet, Alisoun is on a mission to improve the lives of 100,000 people–by making it easier for women over forty to thrive, make the most of life, and have more impact in the world.