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It’s easy to spend your life doing the same comfortable activities you’re used to and know you’ll enjoy. And while you should always have a hobby you can go back to, it’s important to remember there’s a whole world of new and exciting experiences just waiting for you. Stepping out of your comfort zone can result in some of your most memorable moments — things you’ll look back on for years to come. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Here are a few ideas.
Camping
Camping is a good starting point for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable in nature. Recruit a friend or two who knows what they’re doing — even if you don’t, you’ll probably know someone who does — and hit the backwoods. Add some hiking, and even the most urban spirit will begin to appreciate nature.
Order a New Dish
Preferably, this will start with you going to a new, authentic restaurant. Order something surprising, difficult to pronounce or otherwise strange. Bonus points if it’s an animal or plant you’ve never eaten before. If you can find a restaurant with a unique dining experience — from Moroccan belly dancers to a Brazilian steakhouse — that’s even better.
Wake up Early
Like, extremely early. Aim for 5 a.m., or whenever the sun comes up, and find a place to enjoy the sunrise with a cup of coffee. Even better, walk downtown at this unusual hour and experience your area before anyone else has woken up. It’s quite the experience, and will totally transform even the most familiar neighborhood.
Invest in Something Interesting
If you have a bit of disposable income you’d typically spend doing something comfortable — buying games or movies, or just leaving in the bank — take a small risk and invest in something you’ve always wondered about. The very act of investing will force you to look into the product or service more closely, and you’ll probably learn a ton about it in the process. Plus, it might pay off. And if you view this money as something you’re using for fun, anyway, you won’t be heartbroken if it doesn’t.
Whitewater Rafting
You can roll this one into a camping trip as well. The thrill of getting tossed down a river in a small raft is second to none. Rafting can be scary — there’s a chance you get sucked or thrown out of the boat in the rapids — but that’s what makes it so ridiculously fun, and an excellent activity for escaping your comfort zone.
Listen to a Foreign-Language Station
Maybe you won’t understand a word the hosts are saying. Perhaps you won’t vibe with the music they’re playing. Or, maybe you’ll find a fun new genre of music that will get you through a long car trip in the future. You never know what will happen, so take the chance and roll with whatever you get. It’s a low-risk venture, and you might end up discovering something you legitimately enjoy.
Flip a Coin for a Day
For one day, leave your decisions entirely up to luck. Everything from where you walk, where you drive, who you visit, who you call and whatever else presents itself, flip a coin and see where luck takes you for the day.
These ideas are just the starting point. Once you get out in the world, you’ll fill up with new ideas for spicing up your life. The biggest part is thinking about what these changes get in the way of — your favorite shows, blobbing on the couch, etc. — and whether these things should take precedence over more exciting activities.
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Photo provided by the author.
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