5 reasons why busy women need to prioritise outdoor adventure
hiking, kindred Elise Lavers hiking, kindred Elise Lavers

5 reasons why busy women need to prioritise outdoor adventure

There’s a particular kind of tired that sleep doesn’t fix. March was a big month for me; two school camps, two weddings, two Kangaroo Island guiding trips, two festivals, plus moving house. While the month was full of things I genuinely love, I still found myself arriving at the end of it feeling completely fried. Not just tired, but disconnected...from my body, from my breath, and from that more spacious version of myself I know I can be. Your month might have looked different, but if you’re anything like the women I work with, I’d guess you had a month of work, meetings, fringe shows, social events, and holding a big mental load too. You had that feeling that life is full, but you somehow feel a little… off. And here’s the thing: the answer isn’t always doing less. Because if I’m honest, I don’t want a smaller life. I want a full one. A rich one. One that holds work I care about, people I love, and experiences that light me up. But what I was reminded of very clearly of camping over the Easter long weekend, is this: Busy women don’t just need rest, we need to step outside. Not in a “quick walk around the block” kind of way...in a leave-your-phone-behind, feel-your-feet-on-the-earth, remember-who-you-are kind of way. After four days of camping in the bush, swimming in the river, walking under moonlight, and sitting by the fire under a sky full of stars… I feel like myself again. I feel clear, grounded and regulated. It reminded me that time like this isn’t a luxury or a “nice to have", it’s a vital part of how I take care of myself so I can actually keep showing up in my life in a way that feels good. I’d even go as far as saying this: for overstretched, over-analytical, high-achieving women, regular solid blocks of outdoor time isn’t optional, It’s essential. Here’s why outdoor adventure matters more than you think.

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Why Feeling Capable Outdoors Has Nothing to Do With Being “Outdoorsy”
hiking, kindred Elise Lavers hiking, kindred Elise Lavers

Why Feeling Capable Outdoors Has Nothing to Do With Being “Outdoorsy”

Dearest gentle reader,

I’m worried you’re thinking about going hiking, but fear you’re just “not that outdoorsy.”

It’s something I hear often. Sometimes it’s whispered apologetically. Sometimes it’s said louder, almost like a flex, as if being a girl who is outdoorsy might somehow be embarrassing.

But here’s what I’ve noticed over the past decade guiding women outdoors: the women who say they’re “not outdoorsy” are often capable, intelligent, high-functioning women in every other area of their lives. They run businesses, lead teams, raise families, manage complex schedules, and solve problems daily. And yet, when it comes to hiking, paddling, or planning an overnight trip, something shifts. Suddenly, they feel unsure.

The word “outdoorsy” has become shorthand for something mythical. Someone who grew up camping. Someone who knows knots instinctively. Someone who doesn’t have a fear of snakes. But capability outdoors isn’t a personality trait. It’s a skill set. And skill sets can be learned.

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