"Sunrise is a moment that’s blissfully rejuvenating and potentially the most splendid aspect of anyone's day. For many I imagine, this moment of peace and solitude would be 'the calm before the storm'.”

Feeling like you’re stuck in a rut? 

Maybe you are. Many of us lead very busy lives. We are restricted by the timetables of the modern working world, dictating much of what we are able to enjoy. Hemmed in and holding back our imaginations, the restrictions act like great dam walls to mighty continental rivers.

One morning this week I found myself waking up early to the sound of the cockerel’s rude and intrusive call. At that moment I was wondering not only about how best to kill said cockerel with my gralloching knife but, as a beam of bright light burst through the narrowest of slits in the curtains and found my face on the pillow, I lay and wondered about the sunrise outside.

When did you last just sit and watch a sunrise?

Sunrise is something few of us see on a regular basis. Anyone who's been on a dawn game drive whilst on safari in Africa, or set off to climb a mountain in the dark hours of a cold night, will know what a magical moment it is when the sun appears. Throwing out its light and warmth across the world. I will never forget the sunrise at 6:35am whilst at 19,000 ft on Kilimanjaro’s crater rim, high above the plains of Africa - stood with my best friend, both of us in awe and oblivious to the cold. It was one of the most spellbinding things I've ever seen. Yet back in the 'real world', I am guilty of wasting this daily, beautiful and very special moment. Are you in the same boat as me? 

(Sunrise at 4:45am, breakfast brewing).

Can you make your limited time off more meaningful?

Yes, absolutely. More time off is probably not something that’s attainable for most, but by being more selective with how we allocate our time and making an extra special effort, that is often smaller than we might expect, we can really enhance our lives.

In acknowledgement of this special time of day and my detachment from it, I have made an agreement with myself. I will get up early and view sunrise from my favourite view here at home where I live in rural Dorset. I’d like to challenge you to make this extra special effort for yourselves. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

(Sharing my hotel room with a family of inquisitive badgers).

(Bivouac in the wilds with mosquito tea lights). 

The caveat for my own experience being that I make it extra special by adding some 'adventure'. A tried and tested concoction that is, for me, fail proof in searing an experience into my memory. These adventures should be something I love to do, so that when I look back at my year on a dark December evening, sat around a roaring fire with good friends in the village local, I can be sure that time gone by has been well spent. 

I am taking the spirit of adventure, and with it I’m packing up a sleeping bag, roll mat, stove and bivouac, and heading out into my wilderness. Away from the creature comforts of home, yet amazingly less than 1 km from my house, I find myself entering a whole new world, and witnessing something very special - all for free. 

Let us know how your sunrise Micro Adventure goes! 

Tweet your own sunrise #MicroAdventure photos to @SandgrouseTeam and share your story with us in the comments below. Feel free to share this post to inspire your friends to get out there. 

There are two public holidays here in the UK this May, so what are you waiting for? 

All photos have been taken using an iPhone 5S with the exception of the Kilimanjaro sunrise photo below which was taken on a Nikon D5300. 

The #MicroAdventure concept has recently been projected into the mainstream limelight by adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys. His recent book which can be found on www.amazon.com become a bestseller and one can find a bank of inspiration and useful tips on his blog: Alastair Humphreys Blog  

(Sunrise at 6:35am from 19,000 ft on Kilimanjaro - Tanzania. Click to read about Kilimanjaro).(St Catherine's Chapel built by Benedictine monks as a place of pilgrimage). 

(My room with a view - free yet priceless). 

(Adventure selfie. Setting forth into the wilderness).