The Camino de Santiago (St. James'due south Way) is a pilgrimage ending in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. While there are numerous routes starting at various locations throughout Europe, the most common is the Camino Francés, which stretches about 500 miles from St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

This by autumn I spent just nether a month walking the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés) across Espana. Information technology was comforting to exist back in the country where I had in one case lived for two years, so I was excited as ever for my journey.

Returning to Spain was extra refreshing, every bit I'd spent the previous year education English in S Korea — a challenging environment for non-Korean-speaking me, to say the least.

And so to that end, the Camino was very much a joy as opposed to a struggle, a homecoming of sorts rather than a completely strange land.

If y'all know about the Camino because of a film or book, chances are the Camino was romanticized, equally it tends to be in those media. Many take this idea that it's a guaranteed life-changing experience that will rock your world — a souvenir with a shiny bow on top.

I didn't have this expectation, nor the result.

But while mine wasn't a huge, instantaneous life-changing feel, I still took abroad nuggets of knowledge that I have applied to my life mail service-Camino. I'm sharing these lessons I learned, because yous can probably apply them to your life too.

1. It feels good to wake upward early and finish something by noon.

On an average day while walking the Camino, I'd be upward by half dozen o'clock and leaving to walk in the dark by half-dozen:xx. While I commonly walked until ane–2 in the afternoon, by 12:00 I had always covered then much ground — literally.

Although the journey is meant to be enjoyed (and I absolutely dearest walking), my favorite office of the day was in one case you arrived at the albergue in the afternoon, where you'd spend the night.

You had the entire afternoon and evening to do as you pleased, considering your walking was done. And I felt so refreshed and accomplished to have seen so much and walked so far during the last half dozen–7 hours.

While information technology was much easier to wake up that early in a new environment/routine where boyfriend pilgrims did the aforementioned, I took annotation of this fact in club to apply it to life dorsum home.

Since returning abode, where I transitioned to a freelance life and could wake up whatsoever hour I pleased, I set my warning for vii:15 every mean solar day. I signed myself upward for some fitness classes that started at 8, every bit extra force per unit area to get up and not hit snooze.

Have there been days I've slept in? You bet. But I always feel improve on days when I finish my work past 4 p.m. than on days when I'm yet chugging away at half dozen:xxx p.m. because I had a late start.

Only put: It feels practiced to wake up early and go something done.

2. If you're non sure which way to go, choose one path and get.

My Camino guidebook had detailed maps, plus descriptions of what you'll come across as you enter and leave each town and city. (Sometimes navigating through cities was the hardest function!)

The unabridged path is as well marked past yellow arrows, simply the frequency at which you see the arrows is inconsistent. They besides come in varied forms: spray-painted on walls, attached to posts, carved and painted into stone, and fifty-fifty pilgrim-fabricated from small rocks arranged into arrow formations on the ground.

Withal in that location were still a few times when I came across parts of the walk and wasn't certain which way to go.

In cities, I'd inquire locals, but if I was stuck out in the boonies I'd usually see if my book had any tips, look around for clues, and use my flashlight if it was night. Merely if these options failed, I never wanted to merely stand up effectually waiting for someone else to come along, to see if they knew. The closest person behind me could take been 2 minutes away or xx. And also, there was no guarantee that this pilgrim would even know.

So my preferred method in this situation became to just pick a path and try it.

If you start to encounter some yellow arrows five minutes in, congrats — you chose correctly. But if the path is tiny and appears to exist going through someone'southward private property, doesn't lucifer the map, and then goes across a stream that you had to run and leap beyond in society to stay on the path, turn around and go back. This is the wrong path.

In life, you might not always know the best choice for y'all, simply y'all won't notice out by staring at the options. Choose one and go with it. If it's not the right path for you, yous can always turn effectually and walk back.

A few years ago, a quondam coworker of mine applied, was offered and accepted a job in the Dean's Office subsequently having worked in a College's department for several years. There was a pay raise and new responsibilities.

He left on practiced terms, a cheerio political party was had, the department began the search for a replacement, and two weeks later he began his new chore.

To his surprise, it wasn't what he expected, and he didn't enjoy the new type of work. Rather than sticking it out "just because," or for fright of having to turn back, he did simply that: He talked to his new dominate, old dominate, and went back to his onetime task. I think both starting the new job and returning to the previous took perhaps equal amounts of bravery.

Standing yet prevents y'all from progressing. So keep moving. Don't be afraid to try something; it'south not permanent, and you can always turn back and choose another path.

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3. Unproblematic is best. Less is more.

We've all heard this one earlier, and I knew it was truthful, merely the Camino just further proved this to me.
On the Camino, I carried everything I had in my lil' JanSport haversack from college. And that "everything" was quite small, because, well, I had to behave the weight on my shoulders every day during all my hours of walking.

I but had my walking shoes and flip flops for footwear, and my outfits totaled two: one that I wore, and a clean one that I'd put on after my shower upon arrival at that solar day's albergue.

Although I was in a new place every single 24-hour interval, I quickly fell into a simple routine: Wake up, walk, check in at albergue, shower, wash clothes, consume, conversation, journal, slumber. Repeat.

It was the simplicity of my days, coupled with the low number of material possessions, that liberated my mind and heart to focus their energies on thoughts and feelings that deserved such energy.

Since returning habitation, I've been going through items I've had for years, donating what I don't need. I've done this many times in the past, but I'm being fifty-fifty stricter with myself. I can thrive out of a backpack, and extra items really just counterbalance y'all down emotionally. One time you get rid of something, I promise you'll forget about it so speedily it's almost scary.

We can survive — thrive — on and so few things.

I've also learned over fourth dimension that when in doubt, get rid of the items. If something truly makes y'all happy, there would be no doubtfulness. Taking pictures is another helpful tip if you're parting with something of sentimental value. Finally, be aware of what new physical things you're adding to your life.

There is and then much more to be said on this topic, but the message is clear: Unproblematic is best. Less is more. Showtime applying it to all areas in your life to see refreshing results.

4. Follow the yellowish arrows.

Equally y'all've learned, the Camino is marked with xanthous arrows to tell pilgrims which way to go.

Some yellow arrows had a more important purpose, directing yous which manner to turn when a path diverged, while others on straight paths miles-long were only an affirmation that you were still going the right way.

Look for the yellowish arrows in your life. Look for signs affirming that y'all're going the right mode, and follow them.

What was the best function of your 24-hour interval? What makes you lot feel practiced? What brings y'all joy? That joy is a yellow arrow, and you demand to follow it.

You lot'll detect that pursuing your passions volition just bring more than yellow arrows — reaffirmations that this is what yous were meant to practice; this is you. This is what you love, this is what makes you feel live.

If you're non seeing the arrows, take a different path.

5. Break things into small-scale tasks.

Seven hundred and eighty kilometers sounds like a lot, doesn't it? (That'due south about 500 miles, by the style, as noted in the title—simply I'm sticking with kilometers for the rest of this, as that's how I tracked my walking each twenty-four hours.)

I always took the walk a day at a time. My average was around 28 kilometers a day. My highest was 40, and I only did that one time. My lowest was 19.6 and information technology felt like I hadn't gone anywhere that 24-hour interval!

Even within each twenty-four hours, I'd often interruption the walking downwards further, depending on my level of burnout, shoulder pain, rut, or just general wanting to be at my albergue already. (Basically when those levels were high, I'd break the walking into even smaller tasks to brand it easier.)

The modest towns I'd cross throughout the 24-hour interval were perfect piffling milestones. My guidebook besides nicely split up up the day's kilometers into bite-sized chunks.

Just walk 3 kilometers. I'm simply walking 3 kilometers — easy! I'd tell myself. And that gets you lot to the side by side tiny task.

Any accomplishment and success, or on the flip-side, whatsoever dreadful particular on your to-practice listing is only a product of many, many smaller tasks.

If you're just ever looking at things as their whole (Walk the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, teach English for a yr in Southward Korea, etc.) they may seem impossible and far out of achieve. "File my federal taxes," for example, could keep you from touching your W-2s for weeks.

And so whatsoever the task that needs to go done, or the accomplishment y'all'd similar to make, pause it downwardly into smaller tasks. Do only 10 minutes today. That's how things go done.

6. Go your own step. You don't have to walk with other people.

Later on hopping on a omnibus in Madrid to become to the offset of the Camino, an American-looking girl saturday down next to me. She was from Tennessee, and was too setting out to walk the Camino.

We chatted on the bus ride, walked around Pamplona during our motorbus "layover," and then navigated St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port together on human foot upon arrival — where she ended up taking the final available bed at the aforementioned albergue where I'd booked ahead of time.

Since we'd spent the whole 24-hour interval together, it started to feel like I needed to account for my whereabouts to her — as if anything less would have been rude or seen equally sick-spirited ditching.

"Heading out to wander the street, see you at dinner!" I said, leaving the 6-bed dorm room. Pilgrims nosotros met that night at dinner thought she and I were friends who had come up to walk the Camino together.

This all sort of panicked me; I'd come lone so I could do as I pleased. I didn't want to be stuck, tied to walking with someone already! And then the post-obit morning, Twenty-four hour period 1 of the Camino, I got prepare super fast and said a quick farewell and "Buen camino" before I stepped out into the night solitary.

Although I had this fright with a few others along the way, I quickly learned that I needn't worry. It was totally acceptable to be walking and chatting with someone one minute, possibly walk in silence for a bit, then drift autonomously if your speeds are different.

When you laissez passer someone, y'all can just wish them a "Buen Camino" if you're deep in thought and don't really experience like talking with others. On the flip side, if y'all're approaching someone who intrigues y'all for whatsoever reason, you tin just as easily begin a conversation as yous walk side by side.

The conversation will terminate when it ends, and you walk together until you're walking solitary. Yous'll run across familiar faces again and again along the Camino, while other pilgrims you'll see just in one case or twice.

My main takeaway hither is that while I could walk at my ain pace and choose who I spent my time with on the Camino, you can (and should) likewise do this every day in your life.

Y'all are non other people, yous are yous. Alive your life the way you want to live it, not the way that others wait you to.

If you don't really become joy from hanging out with a certain longtime friend or quondam higher roommate, end spending fourth dimension with them. Bring together Meetup and build new friendships. Surround yourself with people that inspire yous and brand you feel supported and loved.

Y'all tin use this to even the smallest of decisions. For example, I've learned that my torso needs ~9 hours of slumber a night. It simply does. While many of my friends live on much less, they are non me. So I will gladly retire home earlier than others, and easily ignore whatsoever pleas to stay longer.

And I know it's definitely non e'er easy to live life at your own pace, without existence influenced by the desires of others. But you've got to become for it. Alive your life, not someone else's.

seven. Take walks.

I love walking. When exploring a new place, I honey to just walk around with no agenda. Walking also has this magical way of clearing your mind, letting your subconscious work through turmoil or describe connections while it's processing events. Then, walking was indeed 1 element that attracted me to the Camino in the start place.

Simply I'd never before walked for 6–8 hours a day. For a month straight. And while it sounds like a long time on newspaper, hours would somehow quickly pass without my notice. I'll never forget the day when 4 hours passed in a snap. I was completely lost in thought and hadn't talked to another soul; I was then shocked when I saw what time it was.

Information technology was pretty incredible where my mind wandered to, every bit well. Along the walk, it unexpectedly dug up an quondam face up I hadn't seen or spoken to in virtually four years. Listening to such thoughts taught me that I needed closure with this person, even though if you had asked me earlier in the solar day well-nigh my friends and relationships, this person would accept been the farthest from my heed.

Then that's the other part: You lot've got to listen. Letting your thoughts enter and run where they please is just one stride; following them closely and paying attention will provide much greater personal benefits.

Going for a walk will ofttimes spark new ideas, too. I'm telling you: Your hidden does the piece of work for you, making connections betwixt thoughts that had previously been stored in separate compartments. Stuck on a problem? Go for a walk. Don't know what to write near next? Go for a walk. Getting angry at someone? Get for a walk.

Most Americans will have to develop the addiction of taking walks, equally our society — especially in suburbs — is so dependent on driving. I've been living in an American suburb of 12,000 for the past six months, and am lucky plenty to live less than a mile from our boondocks's beautiful village center.

So while enrolled in practise classes there during the autumn and wintertime, I walked. Classmates were and so surprised when they offset found out. I even got complimented on this walking, as if it had been some bully feat — and besides received offers to be driven dwelling.

Obviously I don't think walking 0.7 miles should be treated as annihilation spectacular. Then how can nosotros contain walking into our lives? Outset, tin can you lot change your mode of transportation to do any sort of regular errand? (Is the school, your work, library, or grocery store inside walking distance, for instance?)

If places are really as well far apart, get for a walk every forenoon or evening in your neighborhood. If you go with a friend or spouse, it'll double equally some quality time together, while going alone has its benefits too. Finally, if yous take a xv-minute break at piece of work, spend it going for a walk effectually the expanse. Similarly, you could apply part of your daily lunch 60 minutes to go for a walk as well.

And recall, walking indoors is however walking — though I've deemed spending fourth dimension outdoors so important that information technology's the unabridged next department.

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8. Appreciate nature.

Beingness outside every twenty-four hours on the Camino — moving — was all things wonderful. By crossing the country on foot, I was able to run across various landscapes and wild animals up close and personal.

There were so many views I never wanted to leave; they sang glorious music to my inner being. I'd just await and wait and look, trying to soak information technology all in while grin from ear to ear, so the memory would last as long as possible.

Since I started each morning walking in the dark, I got to encounter a gorgeous sunrise every 24-hour interval for an entire month. Seeing these sights and appreciating their beauty really makes you feel positively marvelous.

I don't know what it is exactly, but there's only something about the greenish and curves of rolling hills — or the bright teals and deep dejection of seas — that'south completely wondrous to the human eye. And appreciating nature's enchantment and grace does a body (and mind) good.

Aside from the landscapes, ane retention that sticks out in my heed is that of the slugs. I saw and so many slugs while walking the Camino: large, thick black slugs, some with "slime trails" yards long. I never run across these creatures where I'm from, so I'd end to admire them.

When they were plentiful on the trail, I'd exist careful not to step on any. It was of import to be reminded that we are cohabiting on this planet with a diversity of creatures, and we humans need to care for them kindly — to share.

So, ask yourself: When was the last time yous actually stopped to smell the roses? Admired a leaf? Touched a tree? Watched ants and marveled at their power to deport items that are several times their own trunk weight?

You tin can easily put this one into action by noticing nature on those walks you'll now be regularly taking. Additionally, is there a park, salvation, river, or wooded area nearby that you tin walk to? Why not plan a hike and picnic with friends this month?

Walking the Camino just reaffirmed that being out in nature affectionate the effectively details of its plants, creatures, and landscapes is time well spent.

9. Help others.

By choosing to walk the Camino, you're instantly a part of the pilgrim community: a very welcoming, helpful group. Yous share nutrient, offer advice, and aid whenever you lot tin can — even if your only common language is very broken French or gestures.

On my evening in Logroño, upon seeing me take off my knee brace a human let me use his musculus cream for legs. And so, he had me accept a motion picture of his canteen and so I could easily buy the same in a pharmacy.

Another instance of this helpful community involved my ear plugs. Although they'd often fall out while I was sleeping, I somehow managed to always become them both back in my petty plastic container every morning, which went straight into my little blueish zippered pouch along with my toothbrush, toothpaste, and retainer.

So one dark, after getting up in the elevation bunk to slumber, my ear plugs were nowhere to be found. Proud of the fact that I never lose anything because all of my possessions ever take a place (I'thou like this at home, as well), I start to wonder if I had actually left them behind somewhere. I have the loss and go to sleep without ear plugs in.

So, a solar day or two afterwards, I encounter a woman who had stayed in my dorm room a few nights ago. She immediately says to me, "Are you missing something small…?"

After a 2d my listen jumps to my missing ear plugs. But how the heck would she know? She couldn't be talking nearly them, could she?

"My ear plugs…?" I ask with hesitation.

"I have them!" she says excitedly with a big grinning on her confront.

She had seen them on the flooring (must have fallen off the top bunk) when she left that detail morning, and so she figured they must either belong to me or the adult female who slept beneath me.

When I realize where nosotros had been staying that nighttime, information technology totally made sense that this happened. Nosotros had been in a tiny village whose town fiestas were taking place, meaning that music had blasted all dark (and morning). I had hardly gotten any sleep, so I had been a consummate zombie as I packed up that morning.

I was overjoyed to exist reunited with my ear plugs, as I'd thought they were gone forever, but also in awe that this woman had taken the time to pick them up and conduct them with her — merely in example the off-chance arose that she run into me again.

Pilgrims help each other because they share the Camino in common. Taking a footstep back, nosotros need to remind ourselves that all people of the world take something profoundly in common — nosotros're all human beings. And then let's make an attempt to be friendlier even if we think we have "nada" in common, or aren't still aware of our similarities.

A simple way to do this is to smile more oftentimes; smile whenever you interact with someone else. Enquire your cashier at the grocery shop how he or she is doing. Utilize whatsoever skills or knowledge you lot have to help those a few steps backside yous; prove them how you got to where you are. Care for others with respect and compassion, without expecting that it be first "earned."

At the end of the day, helping others creates positive feelings on both ends, as well equally tangible effects that often abound exponentially.

10. Small changes can have big impacts.

Finally, I learned that usually it's the small changes that produce large results.

There's a woman who owns one of the albergues but outside of Logroño, and she's known for helping people with their feet bug (aka blisters). By chance, I actually concluded up staying at her albergue, and everything I read in the guidebook about this kind adult female was true.

I didn't have any blisters (thank you New Zealand hiking wool!), merely I watched the Castilian adult female aid a few others.

"Your shoes are too loose," she told a homo. "That is why you have blisters."

Past tightening his shoes just a bit more than, she demonstrated, the rubbing would stop.

While I didn't have bug with the tightness of my tennies, walking that many hours a day is still a lot of work for the feet. Then one time I was in flip flops at my albergue for the night, I'd usually sit down down and rub my anxiety for a few minutes. At first I was amazed at how applying pressure to different places on my foot would cause my neck to cleft, or other muscles/tendons in my shoulders and elsewhere to crackle and loosen upwards.

This is more an example of the interconnectedness of the human body, I'll acknowledge, which is too often forgotten or not realized past virtually. (This is also why you tin stretch your hamstrings by rolling a tennis ball under your pes, by the way.) Just I still categorized it as ane modest change (tightening shoes, massaging foot) having a big bear upon.

And then applying this to life, it's the things we do every day that affair more than what we do every once in a while. Those little daily deportment add upwardly to a huge sum over fourth dimension.

Taking it 1 step further, of those little things you practice every solar day, it's a smaller amount that creates most of your current situation. So by focusing on that smaller corporeality in any area of your life, you'll see the biggest change.

Perhaps you're near to make some pocket-size changes based on lessons yous've but read about in this very list.

And while they might non produce a big life-changing result immediately, reminding myself of these ideas I learned while walking the Camino — and so putting them into action — certainly has made me more fulfilled, relaxed, and grateful.

Buen Camino!

This article originally appeared on Medium and is republished here with permission.