TRY! 35 Ideas For Doing Something New & Different In Your Life
After posting “Five Reasons Why Trying Something New Will Change Your Life,” I received many requests for suggestions on “new things.” Here’s a starting point for anyone looking to move outside their comfort zone and trying something new or different.
Sure, many of you will have already experienced some of the suggestions on this list, but the idea here is to get you thinking—a starting point. Others may find a dozen or more items on this list as great ideas. So find something here that might stimulate you and get you started.
- Take a class on a subject unrelated to your career, community, or family—something you’ve always been interested in, but never made the time to pursue.
- Go to a new restaurant, preferably an ethnic restaurant and try something different on the menu.
- Take a yoga class, if you’ve never done.
- Meditate.
- Get a massage. It surprises me as how many people I meet, mostly men, who have never had a professional relaxing or therapuetic massage.
- Go to work differently: ride your bike, walk, take a train, use Uber or carpool.
- Cook something at home you’ve never tried.
- Learn to play an instrument or take singing lessons
- Go see live music—a genre you’ve never seen or listened to much before
- Start a blog—if only for yourself
- Take up and master a hobby or craft you’ve always wanted but always found an excuse not to; perhaps sewing, woodworking, or a restoration project (furniture, car or motorcycle)
- Learn a new language
- Travel to somewhere you’ve never been
- Go on a camping trip; sleep under the stars
- Volunteer for a local organization or at a local hospital
- Go to a local Toastmasters meeting
- Change the furniture around in your office, bedroom or home
- Plant a garden—even a patio planter garden
- Stand up paddle boarding —it’s so popular and great workout
- Attend a local “Meetup” in a subject area that interests you but not related to your work or home life. Remember, the idea here is to try something new — different
- Go to a different grocery store than you are used to
- Change phones—using Android? Switch to Apple, or vice versa
- Take a new and different physical fitness class: spin, kickboxing, boxing, Pilates, cross-fit
- Get out on the water—take a canoe trip, learn to sail, go fishing
- Ride a motorcycle
- Learn to ride a bike —a unicycle
- Play a board game with your family, partner or with friends
- Learn to drive a shift-drive car—stick shift
- Try a new sport; tennis, lacrosse, badminton, others
- Create art: paint on canvas, sculpt with clay or paper, draw or sketch with pencil, ink or charcoal
- Learn to juggle
- Raise chickens, ducks, or doves
- Photography and/or video; learn to edit
- Take dancing lessons: tango, swing, two-step, other
- Write a story, poem or article; for yourself or submit it to a website or newspaper magazine
Have an idea that should be added to this list? Please comment with your ideas below and keep the conversation lively and interesting. No matter what, try something new and different—do something you’ve never done today!
[…] I don’t really see how you can advance if you stick to a routine. Trying out new things is how we grow and learn. Besides, there are people who build a whole life and career around interests acquired as a result of attempting just to get out of their comfort zone once! Here is a short list of new things to try. […]
This is so true. I think often people get caught up, moving faster and faster with each passing day. It’s important to slow down—even stop—and find something new to see, do, taste, experience or try!
[…] Then try something else. […]
Hii Allan, This post was very nice. I loved it . made my day 🙂
Thanks Rimpy! So glad you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for more like it!
[…] http://www.allankarl.com/try-something-new-35-ideas-for-doing-something-new-different-in-your-life/ […]
Great article, Allan and I live by trying something new every few weeks.
2 things I’m looking to try and increase visibility is house swapping and kick scooting (commuting to work).
Thank you for your amazing ideas I will definetly try to do something new to make my life having some new spark in it rather than the same routine thanks !!!!!
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[…] A final tip is to try something you’ve never done before. What we create is often based on our personal experiences. If your creative juices aren’t flowing, maybe it’s time to gather some new experiences. This can include the likes of skydiving, visiting a foreign country, or simply something as easy as taking a different route to your lectures. Need some inspiration for new things to try? Keynote Speaker Allan Karl has a list. […]
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Trying to learn a new language is one of the best things to do. People should take one of the said resolutions on the new year. Happy new year.
Try to always smile even if you are stressed or worried, and laugh even if you sad or angry.
Try to change the worse then the bad, and then the good to excellent.
“Change is a non-ending journey, change carries the burdens of the past to penetrate the boring walls of the present, to take you to the hopes of the bright future. Then returns after a while to carry the worries of the past again to continue the change journey.” Dr. Amer Al-Waieli
Absolutely Dr. Amer — good words! Thanks for participating!
[…] TRY! 35 Ideas For Doing Something … – Allan’s Blog. Here’s a starting point for anyone looking to move outside their comfort zone and trying something new or different. […]
[…] Allan’s Blog – Allan Karl | Keynote … – I don’t really see how you can advance if you stick to a routine. Trying out new things is how we grow and learn. Besides, there are people who build a … […]
[…] Trying something new is also a great way to find a new lease on life. If you’ve followed me for any length of time you know that this is my mantra. It’s never too late to learn a new skill. The perfect example of this for me, was when we bought our 1901 Victorian. We moved to a tiny Texas town and were plunged into a huge renovation. I had retired and found myself longing for an outlet for my creativity. […]
[…] Trying something new is also a great way to find a new lease on life. If you’ve followed me for any length of time you know that this is my mantra. It’s never too late to learn a new skill. The perfect example of this for me, was when we bought our 1901 Victorian. We moved to a tiny Texas town and were plunged into a huge renovation. I had retired and found myself longing for an outlet for my creativity. […]