I have discovered something; I don’t enjoy yoga. A few weeks ago, I wanted to take myself out on a date. Braving the wilderness, I decided to go take a yoga class. There I am, doing sun salutations and yet, I was miserable. It was all part of this exploration I had been doing, which I call solo micro-adventures, or ‘artist dates,’ coined by Julia Cameron from the book ‘The Artist Way.’ It’s a date that you take yourself on, a weekly solo expedition to do something that interests you.

But then, I realized that the whole point of the artist date is that you are doing something that actually interests you, or enchants you. Why can it be so hard to follow that which sparks joy? For me, my brain got in the way. When it comes to artist dates, I had all sorts of “shoulds” attached to the idea. I thought it had to involve some sort of healthy activity, or that it had to be a completely solitary experience. I had completely lost sight of the whole purpose of these solo micro-adventures. No wonder I would resist it! So, what does spark joy for me? After some reflection, I discovered that it’s dance and connecting with others.

It’s a little bit like training a muscle. The muscle of doing things by ourselves and following that which interests us. It’s a skill that some of us already possess, while others like myself, could use some practice. Micro-adventures are an excellent way to nurture that sense of wonder and engage our senses, which can help us disconnect from our analytical side. Our daily routines often require us to reside in our prefrontal cortex, leading to a lack of balance in our lives. Thus, not only can these solo-dates connect us to a sense of joy and wonder, but also support our rest and recovery. Additionally, there is value in having space to feel into our own responses to new experiences, before it is colored by another’s reaction.

By intentionally carving out time for ourselves and engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment, we can strengthen our ability to tap into our intuition and creativity. This can have a ripple effect on other areas of our lives, such as improving our relationships, work performance, and overall sense of well-being. The good news is that this is a skill, just like any that we can practice and develop. So, whatever your interest may be, I invite you to join me for these solo micro-adventures!

What are ways that you nurture your joy and interest? Do you make time for solo-adventures? My next micro-adventure will be a dance class, what is yours? Please feel invited to share your thoughts and experiences with me. You can email me at: anacamillecoaching@gmail.com, I would love to connect.