It’s that time of year: Time to shout on social media about whether you’re yay or nay on the concept of New Year’s Resolutions.
While some people love the idea of setting a goal in public view, others feel triggered by unreasonable aspirations or the prospect of failing. I have been conflicted about them for a long time, but in resolutions’ defense, that’s probably because I have so often set them up for failure. There’s a huge difference between an attainable goal—one that requires serious thought about where you want to go and how to get there—and a fantasy with no infrastructure for success.
For example, compare “Get in shape” with “Go for a run every week and build up to running a half marathon.” One of these is arbitrary and unsupported, while the other requires consistent, habit-building action. At the end of the year, you can answer “can you run a half marathon?” much more clearly than you can “are you in shape?” (What does that even mean?).
In 2024, I want to have more fun, build my arsenal of outdoor skills, and get stronger so I can feel good and capable on my adventures. So, I’m working on setting specific resolutions that achieve those goals.
Here are some suggestions for measurable resolutions that can help you spend more time outdoors next year.
Try a New Outdoor Activity
To complete this resolution, all you have to do is try one thing you’ve never tried before. Lots of outdoor gear shops, including the nationwide REI, hold local events to get people interested in new sports. This is a way to make new friends and try something a bit risky under the supervision of an expert. Hopefully this goes without saying, but for activities that require skills you haven’t developed yet—such as winter swimming or backcountry skiing—always make sure to go with an experienced friend, guide, or organized group to make sure you don’t get into trouble.
At a loss for what to try? Here are some of our suggestions:
- Climbing a mountain
- Backpacking
- Cross country skiing
- Alpine touring
- Analog walking
- Winter swimming
- Wild skating
- Roller skating in a nearby park
- Grilling or picnicking in a park, or hiking to a summit for a gourmet backcountry lunch with a view
- Trail running
- Kayaking, canoeing, SUPing
- Whitewater rafting
- Forest bathing
- Outdoor yoga (maybe on a SUP?)
- Mountain biking
- Dog sledding
- Paragliding
- Ziplining
Work up to Running X Miles
The key to success with a goal like this is to be reasonable. If you’ve never run before, and you hate running, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment if you start with a goal like “Run an ultramarathon.” Instead, start with a goal you know you can achieve, like maybe working up to run a 5K or running a trail you love instead of walking it. Once you’ve met your goal, you can always make a new one.
Go on X Backpacking Trips
If you went on a few backpacking trips last year and they made you super-happy, maybe you can do one more trip this year than you did last year. Count up your 2023 trips and add one. Boom—now you’ve got a reasonable, achievable goal you can feel good about setting.
Join an Outdoor Club in Your City or State
If you’re new to your city and/or if you simply need more adventurous friends, consider setting a goal that will put you in the way of success. Joining a club for other people who are interested in your sport of choice—kayaking, climbing, hiking, and so on—will basically make it impossible to not make friends.
Take a Solo Trip
Whether you’re a solo travel pro or just starting to venture out on your own, getting a solo trip down on your calendar is a great way to build your confidence in all aspects of life. However, planning a trip like this is no small feat, so setting a resolution around it can help motivate you to make it happen. Consider also setting financial goals to save for a trip you’ve been dreaming of for a long time, such as “save X amount of money for a backpacking trip in Spain.”
Keep a Weekly Date for Planning Adventures
Every spring, forests around London are briefly carpeted in a thick bloom of bluebells. I seem to miss seeing them every year—I see photos of this on Instagram too late in the season and face-palm because I haven’t made any hiking plans to go see them myself. In 2024, I will see the bluebells. To make sure I do, I’ve already booked myself a spot on a guided run with Run the Wild. I’ve also blocked out time on my calendar in late December to sit down and make other adventure plans in 2024. I’ll look up the dates of meteor showers and make sure they’re on my calendar along with a plan for where to go and stare at the sky. I’ll block out a few weekends to go backpacking, and I’ll make a list of easy day trips to do whenever I find myself with an unexpected free day. I won’t plan out the entire year, but I’ll give myself a good head start, and I’ll put “Adventure Planning” on my calendar on a few weekdays scattered throughout 2024. That way, I’ll never be too far away from a reminder that it’s always worth making time to get outdoors.
