How To Stay an Adventurous Parent and Still Be Home in Time for Family Dinner

Since having kids, Ben’s found it damn tricky to find time for his adventurous self. Until he discovered the world of microadventures, which he believes is every Explorer-turned-parent’s ticket to having the best of both worlds.

As a father of two very active and unbelievably energetic young kids, I’ve begun to look at time as a currency. We’ve all heard that age-old saying that time is money, well this is never truer than when you’re raising young children.

You see, my kids have this stunning ability to turn a five-minute task into an hour-long ordeal that has me questioning my ability to make sane and rational decisions.

Prior to kids, I used to commute to work on my mountain bike via the back trails and then reverse the trip on the way home. I did this on the days I didn’t have an early surf.

Whilst the detour into the bush added considerable additional travel time to my commute, it was a great way to enjoy the outdoors whilst undertaking a routine task that was part of my everyday life.

Remember when getting out and about was simple?

However, at the end of each week, I’d often say to my wife, ‘I just do not understand why we never have enough free time’.

Then along came my kids and with them, the realisation that for the previous 33 years, I’d been living a naive existence in which I’d deceived myself into believing I was a busy human with no spare time.

I’m sure that I’m not the first man to fall victim to this naivety, however, this didn’t make it any easier to become aware that post-kids, I’m now officially time-poor.

It’s for this reason that I’ve now begun valuing my time as if it were money.

I no longer field desires to purchase fine wine or the latest fashion. Instead, my wife and I spend as much time, if not more, working on the family schedule (time budget) as we do the financial budget.

We have electronic calendars, whiteboards stuck to the fridge, and even a fancy spreadsheet all with the sole purpose of aiding us to find more time in our busy schedule.

A schedule that’s overpopulated with kids’ sports and schooling activities. Oh and don’t get me started on the succession of kids’ birthday parties that now determine our social life.

Does this mean parents need to say goodbye to outdoor adventures?

Absolutely not! We are parents, and by nature that makes us resourceful, resilient, leaders of the next generation. We have a duty, an obligation, to set an example for our children.

It’s our responsibility to show them the importance of getting outside and enjoying nature.

However, if we’re going to pass on the baton of adventurous spirit, we must continue to live that life ourselves. As Sir Richard Branson once said, ‘If happiness is the goal – and it should be – then adventures should be top priority’.

Now if you’ve read this far, then firstly I want to thank you for investing some of your precious time in me, however, what I’m about to share isn’t a miracle or a futuristic time travelling device.

It’s a rather simple concept that requires not much more than a little prior planning, some self-discipline, and a loving partner that acknowledges the importance of enjoying life.

I Present to You, the Microadventure

A microadventure is an abbreviated version of the traditional adventure we all experienced in our younger and more time-rich lives. It can be as simple as packing your snorkelling gear the next time you take the kids to the beach or enjoying some short, sharp kid-free time outdoors.

The key to an impactful microadventure is to ensure that you seek out experiences that offer ‘bang for your buck’ – and I don’t mean financially inexpensive.

I’m talking about an adventure in which you can invest a relatively small amount of time and walk away with an experience that you’d be excited to talk about with other parents whilst pushing kids on a swing.

I’m talking about an hour-long hike that’ll see you take in a beautiful view or a quick SUP on a lake to watch the fish swim under the board and the sea eagles circle above the trees on the bank.

It’s all about minimum effort and maximum satisfaction

If you’re anything like me, you’ve grown accustomed to spending ample time planning adventure trips to maximise the time outdoors and see as much as possible.

I’m not saying those adventures aren’t great. On the contrary, I dream of these adventures and live on the knowledge that one day, I’ll again be a part of the privileged community of Explorers without young children.

However, by embracing the microadventure, I’ve been able to gain a new perspective on what an adventure can be.

I’ve learnt that an adventure isn’t determined by the magnitude of the experience, it’s determined by that amazing feeling you get when you take time for yourself to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors.

Whilst the euphoria that can be achieved from your traditional adventure may last for days, weeks or months, the microadventure leaves you feeling energised, refreshed, and craving more.

On completion of a microadventure, you have the motivation to plan your next adventure, and due to the convenient nature of these adventures, your next one may only be a couple of days away.

If you’re a parent with young kids or a busy professional that struggles with finding time to get out and enjoy regular adventure, join in the revolution that is the microadventure.

It’s the best way to keep getting out there!

Top Tips for Planning Your Microadventure

• Get up early while the rest of the family is asleep. Simply getting up an hour earlier may have you back from your adventure before the rest of the family is even awake
• Embrace the weather. Don’t let a bit of rain slow you down. Remember you’re only out there for a short time so chuck on a jacket and get going
• Plan ahead. A little bit of research can help you plan out a new route that’ll allow you to see something new and maximise your time
• Return the favour. Encourage your partner to have their own microadventures. This’ll allow them to share in the enjoyment and you’ll feed off each other
• Be creative and look outside the box. Something as simple as taking the family to a new beach can inspire you to explore a new rock shelf or climb over the next sand dune
• Share your adventures with others. You never know, you may just inspire your friends or take inspiration from their adventures

Read more: Finding Adventure Again After Having Kids