Micro-Adventures to Support Creativity: How We Recharge in Nature

The Need for Escape

In the whirlwind of running a creative business, finding time to truly switch off can feel impossible. With emails constantly pinging, events to organise, and a team to support, it’s easy to stay glued to our screens from sunrise to sunset. That’s why micro-adventures have become our secret weapon for rest, inspiration, and a much-needed reset.

What is a Micro-Adventure?

Coined by adventurer Alastair Humphreys, a micro-adventure is a small, accessible trip that offers all the joy of adventure—without needing weeks of planning or time off work. Think: a sunset hike, lunch time wild swim, or spontaneous trip out on a sunny day. It’s about recharging your mind and reconnecting with the world beyond the to-do list.

Why We Prioritise Them

For us, these mini escapes are more than just fun—they’re essential. Running The Paint Club means our days are full and often fast-paced. Taking even a few hours away helps us refocus, avoid burnout, and stay connected to the original inspiration behind our work: the joy of being present, playful, and creative.

We try to plan at least one or two micro-adventures each month. Sometimes they’re simple—an early morning beach walk, a trip to our local bouldering centre, an impromptu trip to a forest café, or a hike in Eryri (Snowdonia), our go-to soul-reset spot. These moments give us space to think, or not think at all, and return with clearer minds and happier hearts.

Beautiful Llyn Llydaw, Eryri

How Nature Sparks Creativity

There’s something about standing on a windswept hilltop or dipping your toes in cold sea water that resets everything. Nature slows us down, quiets the digital noise, and reawakens our senses. It’s no surprise that so much of our artwork—and especially John’s—draws inspiration from these landscapes.

Stepping away from screens gives our minds room to wander. Ideas that felt stuck suddenly start to flow. Creative solutions pop up when we’re least expecting them, on the way back from a bouldering session, mid-walk or halfway up a hill.

How You Can Try It Too

You don’t need to travel far or invest loads of time. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Pack a drink and sketchbook and find a local viewpoint to watch the sunset.

• Try a digital detox walk—no phones, just the sights and sounds around you.

• Plan a Sunday morning wild swim or paddle with a friend.

• Take your favourite book, perhaps a hot drink and find a green space to sit and listen to the world around you. It could be a park, or your garden, listen to the birds, the wind, the bustle of people around you, and breathe.

• Try something new, perhaps even a little out of your comfort zone!

The key is to make it feel special, even if it’s small.

A spontaneously trip to our local bouldering centre a mid a busy week. We needed a switch off!

In a world that pushes us to always be “on,” micro-adventures offer a chance to be still, to breathe, and to come back to ourselves. For us, they’re not just a luxury—they’re part of how we keep The Paint Club thriving, and how we stay inspired to create. So whether you’re running a business, raising a family, or perhaops feeling overwhelmed by your to do list, we promise: a little adventure goes a long way.