Physical (and mental!) wellness is a huge part of adventuring, both in and outdoors! But how can you make the most of your wellness to get the most out of your adventures?
Don’t let doubt win!
I almost wrote “don’t let fear win” here but I think doubt encapsulates more of what I mean. Don’t let the thought of failure stop you from doing something fun!
But Kaya, what if I look stupid?
Who cares! Look stupid! Be stupid! If it means you get to have an unforgettable adventure, who cares how you looked doing it!
But Kaya, what if I can’t do it?
Then you did your best! Trying is half the battle, and then you know what you need to do for next time! And who knows, maybe you’ll surprise yourself!
Depends on the adventure.
First off, it depends on the adventure! You don’t need to able to run a marathon to enjoy a weekend at the lake. Not every adventure needs you to be at your physical best! This article focuses on the ones that might require you to be on your a game.
Find an adventure!
This is the best part! Pick something awesome that you want to do, and make it happen!
Need some inspiration?
- Do a mud run!
- Go kayaking
- Try roller skating!
- Learn to paddleboard!
- Hike the Appalachian trail!
- Anything else you think sounds fun!
Set goals
Now that you’ve identified an adventure, make a goal! If I want to hike the Appalachian trail, I need to put a lot of time and effort into it if I want it to go well! Small adventures are the same way. Make a goal that is time sensitive, measurable, and important to you!
For example, my goal could be, I want to hike the Appalachian trail in less than six months, starting next summer! This goal has a timeline, measurable endpoint, and is something I might find fun to do!
Work up to that goal!
So now that we have the end in mind, let’s make steps to getting there! If I want to complete that hike, I need supplies, endurance, and strength training. I can start getting my supplies together, but if I don’t practice walking with weight, I’m never going to get there. Working out and exercising is way more satisfying when you have an actionable goal in mind! I’ll add a bit more about how to work out as someone with disabilities later, but for now, start slow and work up!
Refuel
I hope you don’t think that working out is all you need to get stronger! Making sure that you’re eating well and getting your rest is just as important. You can lift eight hours a day, but you won’t see real gains until you start taking care of yourself. The last thing you want is to be exhausted by the time you start your next great adventure!
Be kind to yourself
I know that this can seem like a lot. There’s a lot going on! You have to prep for your adventure, exercise, rest, and eat??? That feels like so much! But trust me it will pay off. In addition to all this, you want to be kind to yourself on the way. If you’ve lost morale, you’re never going to get any better because you won’t see the point anymore. Keep your head up, and keep on keeping on!
I tried to keep this one short and sweet, because it’s an intro into posts to come! I’m hoping to do more on exercise, planning, and self improvement in the frame of accessibility! In the meantime, lookout for more from me, and keep on adventuring!
Trailblaze on!
—Kaya
Trailblazing Unleashed 
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