For years, I thought adventure had to be big to make me “outdoorsy”. 

A successful weekend outdoors used to mean a long drive to the mountains, an early alarm, a fully-packed rucksack and a challenging hike with a summit (or three). If I wasn't spending 8+ hours in the mountains, reaching a viewpoint or hitting at least 30,000 steps and ending the weekend completely shattered, it somehow didn't feel like I'd really been outdoors.

I loved those adventures and don’t get me wrong, I still do. 

But, over the last few years and somewhere along the way, my relationship with the outdoors has changed along with how I perceive being “outdoorsy” and going on adventures.

I stopped measuring my time outside by miles walked or summits bagged and started appreciating the little moments instead. 

Reading beneath a tree. 

Walking barefoot through the grass. 

Eating dinner outside because the evening was too beautiful to waste indoors. 

An after work swim in a river or lake.

Ironically, I now spend more time outside than ever before and the small moments have taught me something I wish I'd realised years ago; the outdoors doesn't have to be an all out adventure to be beneficial. 

What is a micro outdoor adventure?

A micro adventure is exactly what it sounds like - a small, achievable outdoor adventure that fits around your everyday life. They can be short, simple, local and cheap. 

The term was popularised by British adventurer Alastair Humphreys who encouraged people to find adventure close to home rather than waiting for the perfect holiday or expedition.

A micro adventure doesn't have to involve camping, climbing mountains or travelling hundreds of miles. It might be watching the sunrise before work, taking your lunch outside, reading a book in the park or walking a different route home.

The beauty of micro adventures is that they're accessible to almost everyone. They don't require expensive equipment or hours of planning. They simply require one thing: stepping outside.

Why I've fallen in love with the micro adventures

One of the biggest things I've learnt is that I don't need to wait for the "perfect" adventure anymore.

There was a time when I'd spend all week looking forward to a big hike, only to feel disappointed if the weather changed or life got in the way. Now, I know that spending just 20 minutes outside can completely change my day.

Micro adventures are easier to fit around busy lives. They don't require hours of planning or a full day in your diary. They're affordable, spontaneous and they help us build a good habit of spending time outdoors rather than waiting for the occasional big adventure.

Ironically, I've found myself appreciating nature even more because I'm noticing it every day instead of only at weekends or on my days off. Pass me those binoculars and my bird call app, am I right!?

Another reason I've embraced micro adventures is because they're so easy to say yes to. 

Wanna grab coffee, go for a walk by the lake and watch the ducks? OF COURSE I have a spare 30 minutes for that!

Wanna park in that layby and walk 20 minutes to the viewpoint to watch the sunset? That sounds better than sofa rotting to another trashy TV programme!

Wanna stick dinner into some tupperware tubs and eat it in the park? HELL YEAH I DO! 

As a busy woman with a job, a house to manage, an elderly dog to look after and a terrible habit of doom-scrolling, I often gaslight myself into thinking that I don’t have the time. But that 1 hour doom scroll could have been a walk outside, a coffee by the river or a walk through the woods to listen to the birds. 

They don’t take the same amount of planning that your typical big outdoor adventure does and you can often decide to do them right before you leave the house. 

Why spending time outdoors is so good for women's wellbeing

The benefits of spending time in nature go far beyond the physical benefit of getting your steps in. Over the past decade, researchers have found that regular time outdoors can have a remarkable impact on both our physical and mental wellbeing.

Nature Helps Reduce Stress

When we're stressed, our bodies produce cortisol (the hormone responsible for our fight-or-flight response). Studies have shown that spending time in natural environments can lower cortisol levels, helping us feel calmer and less overwhelmed. Even something as simple as sitting in a park or taking a short woodland walk can reduce stress more effectively than spending the same amount of time in an urban environment.

For many women juggling careers, families and countless daily responsibilities, those moments of outdoor calm can be invaluable.

Fresh Air and Daylight Improve Mood

Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after spending time outside?

That's not just coincidence.

Natural daylight helps regulate serotonin, a chemical that influences mood, while exposure to sunlight also helps our bodies produce vitamin D which plays an important role in bone health, immune function and overall wellbeing.

Movement outdoors also releases endorphins (the body's natural feel-good chemicals). This doesn’t mean you have to run a marathon. A gentle walk is enough.

Nature Helps Us Sleep Better

Morning daylight helps regulate our circadian rhythm - that’s our body's internal clock. 

Getting outside, particularly earlier in the day, can improve sleep quality by helping our bodies recognise when it's time to be awake and when it's time to wind down.

Better sleep leads to better energy, improved concentration and a more balanced mood.

The Outdoors Encourages Mindfulness

One of the things I love most about spending time outside is how naturally it slows me down.

Without even trying, I begin noticing things I would usually miss; the sound of birdsong, the smell after rain, wildflowers growing along a footpath and clouds drifting overhead. 

Nature gently pulls our attention into the present moment, giving our minds a break from constant thinking and endless scrolling.

5 top tips for planning in more micro adventures into your life. 

1. Start Small

You don't need a whole day to enjoy the outdoors. Start by finding just 20-30 minutes in your day. It might just be a morning coffee in the garden, a lunchtime walk or watching the sunset. Small adventures soon become lasting habits.

2. Make Getting Outside Comfortable

Keep your outdoor essentials somewhere you can grab them quickly. Over the warmer months, I often have a small rucksack packed with the essentials - a water bottle, a sit mat, my flask, a water bottle and binoculars so I can grab it and shove anything else I might need in quickly. 

Having comfortable clothing, supportive footwear and a lightweight layer ready to go removes one more barrier to heading outside. My Urban Trail's leggings, shorts, fleeces and waterproof jackets are designed to be just as comfortable for everyday adventures as they are for longer hikes.

3. Schedule Adventure Like Any Other Appointment

Not everything has to be spontaneous. If it's not in the diary, it's easy to let life get in the way so set aside a little time to plan in where you want to go and what you want to do. For example, you might decide that you are going to stop somewhere on your way home from work to eat dinner on a bench so plan it in just like you would a doctor’s appointment. 

4. Explore Close to Home

Adventure doesn't have to mean travelling for hours and besides, petrol is SO EXPENSIVE right now so it’s easier to stay local to keep costs down.

It’s easy to say “I have nowhere interesting nearby” but I bet you do. I used to say the same when I lived in Manchester but I never actually put in any effort to find quiet, outdoor spaces. Imagine my embarrassment when I found a river a 20 minute walk away with little beach areas and open fields to walk through. That place quickly became my escape after work.

Keep a list of local parks, woodland walks, riverside paths and beauty spots that you can visit whenever you have a spare hour. You might be surprised by how much there is to discover on your doorstep. 

5. Change Your Mindset

Stop waiting for the "perfect" adventure. Every moment outside counts whether it's walking the dog, reading under a tree or eating dinner in the garden. The more you embrace these everyday moments, the more connected you'll feel to nature and the easier it becomes to make the outdoors part of your routine.

25 Simple Micro Outdoor Adventures to Try

Slow Morning Adventures

• Watch the sunrise.

• Enjoy your morning coffee outside.

• Eat breakfast in the garden.

• Listen to the dawn chorus.

• Stretch or do yoga outdoors.

Everyday Adventures

• Walk a different route home.

• Read beneath a tree.

• Visit a local woodland.

• Have lunch in the park.

• Explore a nearby village.

• Discover a new public footpath.

Nature Moments

• Walk barefoot on grass.

• Learn five wildflowers.

• Watch butterflies.

• Sit beside a river.

• Go cloud watching.

• Listen for birds instead of a podcast.

• Watch the stars.

Adventures with Friends

• Plan a sunset picnic.

• Meet for a coffee walk instead of meeting in a café.

• Visit a local beauty spot.

• Take the dog somewhere new.

• Go on an evening bike ride.

Solo Adventures

• Leave your phone in your pocket for an hour.

• Journal outside.

• Watch the sunset alone.

• Find your favourite bench and simply sit.

The beauty of these adventures is that they don't require lots of planning or specialist equipment. A comfortable outfit, a bottle of water and a willingness to step outside are often all you need. 

Your micro-adventure challenge

This month, don't worry about climbing a mountain or planning the perfect hike.

Instead, find the smallest adventure.

Read outside.

Eat dinner in the garden.

Take a slow evening walk.

Watch the sky change colour.

Stand barefoot on the grass.

You might be surprised by how much joy those simple moments can bring.

A final thought on micro adventures

Being “outdoorsy” (whatever that means) isn't measured by distance, elevation or how many miles appear on your watch. It's measured by how it makes you feel.

So why not make this week the week you start your own micro adventure? Pull on your favourite leggings, throw on a cosy fleece if there's a chill in the air, and see where your feet take you. 

Because sometimes the smallest adventures leave the biggest mark.

For more ideas to plan your own micro-adventures, check out more from our blog by clicking here.