The Enemies of Adventure
Living an Un-Googleable Life
Find Adventures that Aren’t Googleable
Fifteen years ago, I worked from home doing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and writing academic research reports, all desk-based computer work. As a counterweight to this screentime, I raised pigs. A mini-farm was new to me, and I enjoyed the tactile work. I also took up hunting.
Books and people provided the best information about these new-to-me undertakings. The internet contained information about farming and hunting techniques at the time, but they weren’t the polished, comprehensive web pages we have today.
Neither hunting nor farming was Google-able, and that’s why they appealed to me.
To learn, I had to conduct non-internet-based research that necessitated actually trying, experimenting, interacting, and often failing.
My mantra became:
Find adventures that aren’t Googleable.
Today, if I Google any topic, I’ll get plenty of polished, authoritative, and opinion-based website hits that empower you to become a farmer or hunter in “five easy steps.”
Once un-Googleable endeavors are now Googleable.
Enemies of Adventure
How, then, do we create new and novel experiences when the computers at our fingertips seem designed to remove all uncertainty, minimize all risk, and reinforce staring at the world through an upright rectangular screen under the guise of conducting “research?”
The enemies of adventure:
Uncertainty
Abundance of Choice
Distraction
Problem: Uncertainty
Going into unknown places has always been scary or unnerving. What’s changed is that our phones now allow us to dwell in the comfort of this uncertainty, creating an illusion that we can eliminate all unknowns.
Too many people are deterred from new activities because they’ve over-researched and over-analyzed a place or activity. One negative review or a less-than-perfect weather forecast can derail a plan for no good reason.
Yet it’s the uncertainty that adds the thrill to our adventures.
Problem: Abundance of Choice
We inhabit a world with endless choices. From the color of our shoes to the apple variety we select at the grocery store to what TV show to watch, the amount of choice is paralyzing.
Too often, we spend more time on trivial decisions rather than doing. The other day, I needed a new stuff sack for a sleeping bag. After 45 minutes, I was still trying to decide between the color, material blend, and buckle quality (based on reviews). I gave up and haven’t ordered a new one yet.
Problem: Distraction
Phones distract us from the present moment and often from the task ahead. Bored? Nervous? Look at your email and check stock prices or the weather. Can’t decide where to go camping? Read some reviews and delay the choice.
Whether it’s an unpleasant work task or deciding where to go canoeing on Saturday, our phones distract us from making sound, mindful decisions.
Defeat These Enemies
Solution:
Uncertainty- Stare it Down
“Uncertainty is the essential, inevitable and all-pervasive companion to your desire to make art. And tolerance for uncertainty is the prerequisite to succeeding.”
- p. 21, Bayles and Orland, Art and Fear
The uncertainty about a trip, plan, or the future can be overwhelming, and this feeling is rooted in fear. To overcome this, I recommend the following visualization:
Think about what you’re afraid, unsure, or worried about. Identify it and name it.
Then, imagine it in front of you. Imagine it’s alive, and it’s sizing you up.
Stare it down like a mean dog or bully.
Imagine you’re protecting your attention and curiosity from this fear of uncertainty.
You’ve done your best, and this is your fate: accept the outcome of your decision.
Solution:
Abundance of Choice- Create a Plan
With too much data, time can be a damage control tool. Research is essential, but limit it (e.g., with a timer) and move on (e.g., accept the uncertainty). I’ll say that again: research and execute, NOT research excessively, constantly reassess and analyze, and never execute.
Limiting choice can liberate us, allowing us to decide and move forward.
Solution:
Kill Distraction
“Shallow Work: Noncognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted. These efforts tend not to create much new value in the world and are easy to replicate.”
- p. 228, Newport, Deep Work
Put your phone far away.
I say “kill” distraction here because it’s another necessary visualization tool. Smartphones and the corporation-conceived, attention-mining algorithms distract by design. Breaking free requires extreme action.
For example, as I type these words, my phone is in my woodshed, sitting on a stack of firewood. Getting my phone requires a two-minute walk in the rain, which is a sufficient deterrent. For others, having it in another room may suffice. For me, if my phone is within arm’s reach, then it sabotages my focus.
Elements of the Unknown
As Earth is cataloged, indexed, and therefore viewable from afar, it’s increasingly difficult to engage in activities that have elements of the unknown. Maybe you want big changes or want to start small: a new recipe, a new route to work, a new hobby. I hope these strategies resonate with you and your goals.
I have been dealing with fears of my own regarding uncertainty so this post is timely for me right now. I know I need to forge ahead.
Excellent essay about a very important topic Jesse! 👏 I'm a big fan of the PDCA (plan, do, check, act) approach to uncertainty. Just do an experiment, analyze the results, and move on to the next step.