Regardless of how you spend your time, life has a way of just rolling along - with or without us. This forces a choice: actively live life to the fullest or let it pass us by little by little. We each have different amounts of money, opportunities, and connections, but everyone has a set amount of time: 24 hours in a day. Your reaction to that truth has the power to define the quality and depth of your life.
As a blogger, freelancer, social media manager, and student Wesley Fouse understands the difficulties of balancing. He says:
"As college students, it's so easy to get caught into a monotonous routine that leaves you stressed and frustrated. That's why I think it's so important to spend time outdoors, whether it's walking, hiking, biking, swimming, climbing, canoeing or running. By getting outside, you're providing yourself with the opportunity to escape your schedule and break free of the norm. It's not always easy and it's certainly not always comfortable, but before you know it you'll learn to love the adventure and excitement the world has to offer."
There is a great big world out there, and it's waiting for you. That alone is reason enough to pause your Netflix, log out of Facebook, and get on the other side of your door, but just in case, here are four more motivations to spend more time outside:
It’s good for you.
It's as intuitive as that. If you're bored with "working out" you're probably just approaching it wrong. A 10 mile hike will do more for you than a 30 minute go on the elliptical ever could. I almost never feel motivated to go spend even one hour at the gym, but once I get outside, I could be moving, sweating, and working my muscles for hours.
You won’t see your world the same again.
Hunter McKay, co-founder of the lifestyle movement Abide Outside, puts it like this, “I like being surrounded by something that can't be created by man. It’s cool to look out into the distance where all there is is mountains and sunlight; it’s the purest form of creation. To stand there and think about the fact that I praise the creator of the light and the mountains, it puts everything in perspective.”
There are things about ourselves we can't discover when we're locked into our routine, who knows what you will discover about yourself and your world when you start to explore something new.
It brings people together.
Heather Henderson, a student at Texas A&M and part-time world traveler says, "One of the coolest things I've learned abroad is how compassion is a language in itself. No matter where you are or if you speak the language, there are so many kind people. One of my favorite things about traveling is that you're constantly being pushed out of your comfort zone, which forces you to grow. You become more culturally aware, and you meet amazing people who challenge you to think in new ways."
Sometimes, you don't even need the commonality of speaking the same language to share in an experience with people. Being "outside" can mean more than just going outdoors; nothing opens doors to new relationships and experiences like stepping out of your comfort zone does.
It leads you to a place of contentment.
In society today we need education, jobs, families, and friends. Often and especially in college, we pursue those goals with a disregard for the present and the now. The real challenge is not to obtain success by the world's terms, but rather to live life in such a way that we are fully aware and consciously attuned to the road we travel.
As Wesley points out, "Spending time outdoors is an opportunity to explore the incredible world that surrounds all of us. Every trail, valley, stream and mountain is a potential adventure and all you need to do to experience it is walk out your front door.
Everyone has a bit of an explorer's spirit within them but, many never find it. We get lost in our routines and convince ourselves that we're comfortable right where we are. Don't let that happen to you. Find your adventurous side, step outside your front door and explore the world in which you live. I promise you won't be disappointed."
Adventure is an integral part of life, go find yours!
To follow the adventures of Wesley, Hunter, and Heather find them online here:
Twitter: @Wesley_Fouse | Blog: wesleyfouse.wordpress.com
Instagram: @HunterMcKay and @letsabideoutside | Website: abideoutside.com
Instagram: @Heathgh | Travel Blog: heatherghenderson.wordpress.com
