Get out of your Comfort Zone

Written by Charley Miller, June 2024

Sometimes, looking after yourself means breaking out of your routine and doing something different. Last weekend, I went “bikepacking” around the Isle of Wight with my partner Tanay and friend Janine. It was amazing!

The landscape of the Isle of Wight is varied and beautiful. The Round the Island cycle route takes in not only coast but lovely farmland and woodland too – and lots of hills (:

A tame Raven wandering around St Helens beach was a wildlife highlight, just a few feet away from us post-sea swim. A Peregrine Falcon sitting on the cliff when we stopped to enjoy the view around Freshwater Bay was another. The Pyramidal Orchids all along the road verges on the western point of the island were a welcome distraction from the long stretches of uphill! Though of course we were being mindful and noticing the sensations right here, right now, and not dwelling on the length of uphill disappearing into the distance… Because that’s in the future 😉

It’s very easy to wish “if only the wind was behind us instead” or “why didn’t we go the other way around?” which would have been the easier option due to the strong headwind (most other cyclists were going that way). But we don’t always need life to be easy for us! The challenge was part of what made this weekend so good. The feeling of achievement of making it 65 miles against the wind, with slightly sore bodies. As well as the pleasure of the views, the sun, beers, cake and excellent company. Achievement + pleasure = happiness!

We were all looking forward to a shower at the campsite on our second night to wash off the sea salt and sweat. But we got to the lovely Compton Farm campsite (pic below) to find there was a power cut and the showers weren’t working! So we accepted that we’d wash once we got home the next day, and embrace the grime until then. Oh, and another sea swim in the middle…

I encourage you to try something new this week, and try to make it a bit difficult. As this is Wildlife and Wellbeing, I’m going to suggest some outdoor ideas…

Get up early and enjoy the dawn chorus on a sunrise mini-adventure (sometimes I go back to bed after!).
Lie down and look up in your garden/local park/woodland and experience a new perspective. Try not to worry about what other people might think.
Head out around sunset and look up for the first star of the night and maybe a bat.
Instead of meeting a friend for a drink, suggest a walk/cycle/wheel/run together instead.

Stay wild and well!

Charley