July's Mini-Adventures: 31 Small Things to Make This Month Feel Bigger
One small adventure a day to help you add a little more fun, freedom, and spontaneity to your month.
Hola my friends! From Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! 🌊
We’ve just finished an amazing couple of weeks in Vegas, and now we’re settled in Cabo for the next two weeks to celebrate my husband Rhett’s, 50th birthday. (Yes he’s my toyboy! 😂)
The hotel is gorgeous, the beach is right there, and the weather is doing exactly what you want Mexican weather to do in June.
Right now I’m writing this from a beachside table watching the waves crash, which feels like a slightly unfair way to start a Substack post. 😉
Welcome to the first edition of ‘Monthly Mini-Adventures’. This is a quick monthly roundup of my exciting adventures across the month, plus a downloadable list of small ‘mini-adventures’ to help you add a little more fun, freedom, and spontaneity to your month!
So first, a quick roundup:
Where In The World Was I This Month?
Weeks 1 and 2 - Encinitas, California
We started the month house-sitting in Encinitas, looking after a beautiful dog called Teddy.
Unfortunately I was pretty poorly for most of it (chest infection, gallbladder still settling), so I didn’t get out to explore nearly as much as I’d planned. But house-sitting remains one of my favourite ways to see places I’d never otherwise visit, and a bit of puppy love does the soul good.
If you’d like to see my full guide on how to house-sit your way around the world, it’s here on Gumroad. (Quick note: don’t buy it just yet! I have a really special offer coming from tomorrow for the whole of July, that gets you this guide PLUS everything else in my backpack.)
Weeks 3 and 4 - Las Vegas, Nevada
I love Vegas. I have no idea what that says about my personality. But the neon, the spectacle, the Sphere, the fountains, the over-the-top brilliance of the whole place.
I just love it.
You can read all about my Vegas adventures here.
My Favourite Moment This Month
Floating Gondolas
Check out this amazing floating gondola! 😮
What an amazing optical illusion right? The water is so still and clear that they truly look like they’re floating in mid air.
I stood there for ages just watching (and maybe have about 20 more photos on my phone 🙊).
The Star-Spangled Banner Fountains
On my last night in Vegas, as my family headed to bed, I wanted one last Bellagio fountain show. Little did I know the last display at midnight is to the Star-Spangled Banner!
What a thrill!
Thank you America, you were awesome, I can’t wait to come back later in the year. 🇺🇸 ❤️
What’s Coming Up Next Month?
Two more weeks here in Cabo, then in mid-July we head to Vancouver for a house-sit. I’ve never been to Canada before and I’m super excited. 🇨🇦
On the work front, July is shaping up to be a big month:
This Big World had over 100 sales again in June (106 to be exact), and I’ve just hired an outreach coordinator to help with creator collaborations. We’ve already sent 18 packs out and some of those creators will be appearing on Substack with me for interviews. This feels like a bit of a turning point for the cards. 🥳
A couple of Substack collaborations coming up that I’m excited about.
A fantastic July Substack promo to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday (see my post coming tomorrow).
A long-overdue coaching call for my cohort members (sincere apologies for the delay - the various illnesses have not helped). Details coming very soon.
Ok that’s me, now, on to making your July a fantastic month!
31 Mini-Adventures for July
Welcome to the first edition of Monthly Mini-Adventures.
Here’s the thing. You don’t need to fly to Bali to feel alive. You don’t need to quit your job, sell your house, or fundamentally reinvent yourself. (Though if any of those are calling, by all means.)
Most of the time, you just need to do one small thing today that’s slightly out of your usual.
That's the whole idea behind this monthly calendar. 31 small adventures, one a day, designed to shake up your routine just a little.
Some are tiny acts of curiosity. Some are small rebellions against acting your age. Some are excuses to do something just because. And a few are small business nudges if you’re building something on the side.
You don’t have to do all 31. Pick the ones that excite you. Ignore the rest. Save them for August. Or do three in one day if you’re feeling spicy.
Whatever you do, let me know in the comments which ones you tried and which ones I should add to next month’s list.
July’s Mini-Adventures
Watch the sunrise. Be fully present with a coffee or tea and no phone.
Order something you’d never normally order from your usual coffee place.
Send a postcard to someone who isn’t expecting one. (Yes, in actual post.)
Independence Day, US folks. Whoever you are, eat something you’ve never eaten before today.
Walk somewhere new for 30 minutes. No podcast. No phone. Just you.
Cook something from a country you want to visit. Bonus points for ingredients you’ve never used.
Reach out to one creator you admire. No agenda. Just say you love their work.
Text someone you haven’t spoken to in a year. Tell them you were thinking about them.
Pick one thing on your to-do list that’s been there for more than a month. Do it. Or delete it.
Go to a bookshop. Buy one book that catches your eye, not one you “should” read.
Take the long way home from wherever you go today.
Find the highest point in your town or city. Go there. Look at the view.
Cook dinner outdoors tonight. Garden, balcony, park bench. Doesn’t matter where.
Spend an hour in a place you’ve never been before. Cafe, gallery, park, neighbourhood — anywhere new.
Write down 10 things on your bucket list. Pick one to start planning.
By the way, if you love these mini challenges, the This Big World challenge cards are basically this in physical form. Pick a card, do the thing. Brilliant for trips, road trips, or when you’re stuck for ideas at home.
16. Eat dessert first today. Just because.
Listen to an album from your childhood from start to finish.
Have a conversation with a stranger today. The barista, the dog walker, the person in the queue. Real conversation, not pleasantries.
Spend an hour learning one new skill that would help your business. Just one hour.
Plan a day trip for next month. Just plan it. Booking it can wait.
Sing in the car at the top of your voice. Bonus points for windows down.
Pull out a This Big World card. Do whatever it says. (Or pretend you have a card. Open a map, point at a spot within an hour of you, drive there.)
Compliment a stranger today. Watch how it makes you feel.
Write down five things you’ve done this year that you’re proud of. Just for you.
Write down the one thing you’ve been putting off in your business. Do it tomorrow.
Try a new restaurant tonight. Or order takeaway from somewhere you’ve never tried.
Do something today that your 25-year-old self would think is amazing.
Pick one product, service, or post you’ve made that you’re proud of. Share it again.
Ask three readers what they’d love more of. Listen.
Plan one small bold thing for August. Tell someone you’re doing it so you can’t quietly bail.
Pitch yourself for one guest post, podcast, or collaboration today.
Download the PDF version to display somewhere prominent here 👇
That’s July.
Let me know which ones you think you’ll try and if any of these prompts becomes a story, I want to hear it. Send me your photos, your wins, your tiny acts of small rebellion. I’ll feature my favourites in next month’s post!
And don't forget, you can grab 50 scratch-off mini-adventures over at This Big World. Brilliant for road trips, dinner parties, slow Sundays, or when life starts feeling a bit beige. They also make a brilliant gift for the travel lover in your life.
About Jo
Hey there! I’m Jo Barnes, a 53-year-old British digital nomad who’s spent 16 years building online businesses across 45+ countries.
I write about funding your freedom, nomadic life after 50, and ageing disgracefully.
Occasionally I also write about Wi-Fi disasters and questionable food choices, but that’s less intentional.
Browse The Backpack for guides, courses, templates, and tools to help you fund your freedom.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram if you want to see what I’m up to between posts.
If this resonated, a like, comment, or share helps more people find this newsletter. And I genuinely appreciate it.