Train Your Head

Everyone talks about getting physically fit for an expedition. Fair enough—it matters. But your legs won’t get you through the tough bits unless your head’s on straight. Expedition life is just as much mental as it is physical. Probably more.

You don’t need to be a Navy SEAL. But if you can’t stay calm when it gets hard, stay focused when you’re tired, or stay useful when things go wrong—then you’re going to be a liability.

The good news? You can train your brain the same way you train your body.

Start with discomfort

You need to get comfortable being uncomfortable. That means cold showers. Long hikes in the rain. Going without headphones. Doing boring or repetitive stuff and not complaining. All the things that sound a bit miserable? Do more of those. You’re not trying to suffer—you’re building tolerance.

Do hard things on purpose

Pick something you don’t like doing and do it regularly. That might be early mornings, cardio, cooking outside, carrying weight uphill, whatever. Choose challenge. The more times you push through something you didn’t want to do, the more proof you have that you can handle things when they get tough later.

Train tired

Expedition fatigue is real. Long days. Bad sleep. No recovery. So train when you’re tired. Do your workout at the end of the day. Go hiking after a rough week. Practice making decisions when you’re low on energy. That’s how it’ll feel out there, so you may as well learn what your brain does when it’s foggy.

Stop relying on motivation

Motivation’s nice, but it’s not reliable. You won’t always feel like getting up, pushing on, or doing the right thing. That’s where discipline takes over. Build habits. Follow a plan. Do it because it needs doing—not because you feel inspired. That’s expedition mindset.

Practice staying calm under pressure

Don’t avoid stress. Manage it. Cold water. Timed challenges. Solo hikes. Controlled pressure is useful. Breathe. Focus. Break things into steps. The more often you practice staying calm in a low-stakes setting, the better you’ll do when the pressure’s real.

Learn how to rest your brain

Recovery isn’t just about your muscles. If your head’s fried, you’re no use to anyone. So practice mental recovery too—breathing drills, journaling, sitting quietly, whatever works for you. Expedition days are long, and you’ll need to reset fast. Build that skill early.

Drop the ego

The jungle doesn’t care how fit you are. The mountain doesn’t care how tough you think you are. Out here, being coachable is more important than being impressive. Listen. Adapt. Be willing to learn and to fail. People with fragile egos usually fall apart the fastest.

Visualise the hard bits

Don’t just picture the highlights. Picture the moment when it’s pouring rain, you’re soaked, hungry, and someone’s just thrown up in the trail. Now imagine how you’ll respond. Mental rehearsal works. It’s not pessimism—it’s preparation.

Choose your attitude

This is the big one. You always have a choice in how you respond. When you’re cold, wet, tired, or stuck in a miserable situation—you can still be useful. You can still be kind. You can still keep moving. And that mindset? That’s what makes you someone people want on the team.

Your body gets you through the terrain.
Your gear helps you stay alive.
But it’s your mind that decides how far you’ll go—and who you’ll be when you get there.

So train your head.