If you enjoy trying new things and challenging yourself or are stuck in a rut and need some inspiration and motivation, you have come to the right place. It is easy to become complacent or find yourself doing the same thing every day just because that is what you have been doing. No more! It is time to find a few new things or revisit something from your past to challenge yourself. Continue reading to learn more.
Play a Game
Games are great. Depending on what you choose, they are highly portable, travel-friendly, and ever-changing. One of the best games you can play to challenge your language skills and become more communicative in the world of wordplay is to play a crossword game online. You can play it on your phone, laptop, and anywhere you happen to be as long as you have an internet connection.
Other fun games include board games where you can strategize with a team member or bring your skills to the next level by trying to best your opponent. Make it even more exciting by inviting your friends or family over for dinner, dessert, and a delightful evening of games. Throw in a game, such as charades, where you have to get up and move around, and your evening will be more fun than ever.
Be Physically Active
If you like to exercise or are not really that motivated at present, begin to challenge yourself to do more and move more.Sometimes all it takes is a little extra movement. Start by doing 10 push-ups and 50 sit-ups every morning before breakfast. If it is hard, stay the course and keep going. Once it becomes easier, add five more sit-ups and push-ups each day. By trying to do more than before, you are creating both a mental and physical challenge that you can strive to achieve every day.
Whether you are at home or on a fun adventure in a different part of the world, one thing you can still do is be physically active. Bring your walking or running shoes with you and get up every (or most mornings) for a walk or run. Continue with those sit-ups and push-ups no matter where you are. Make a commitment to move your body every day to help stay healthy, reduce stress, and clear your mind.
Find a New Hobby
Hobbies are wonderful ways to learn a new skill or improve on an old one. They are opportunities to gain more knowledge in a particular field or use your education to foster a long-simmering interest. Whatever you choose to pursue, make sure your intended hobby is something that will delight and excite you instead of becoming a chore you must complete or feel guilty if you do not.
There are hobbies you can do more easily at home, such as oil painting or woodworking. While other hobbies are more conducive to a transient lifestyle or going where you go. Some hobbies that will challenge you to learn something new and are portable might include knitting or crocheting, photography, graphic design, and geocaching.
Revisit or Learn a New Language
Learning a new language is the ultimate way to challenge your brain. If you have taken a few classes long ago, now is the perfect time to revisit that second language and make it your own. Perhaps you have conquered another language and are looking to solidify your polyglot status by learning a third one.
Studying another language has benefits for your brain that include the potential to increase the gray matter in your brain and help your memory. Speaking more than one language aids in improving cognitive function, including better memory and retention as well as focus and attentiveness.
Regardless of the reason, languages have a profound way of connecting people simply by trying to communicate in someone else’s language. Even if you are not fully proficient, oftentimes your efforts are worth more than you know when you travel to another country and truly try to immerse yourself.
Meet New People
If you are an introvert or have become comfortable in your daily routine, it is time to shake things up a little. One of the best ways you can do that is by making connections with new people. You never know who you will meet and what type of new experiences or information they will bring into your life when stepping out of your comfort zone.
While it can seem easy to meet new people wherever you go, it can also be challenging and make you feel out of your element. Some functional ways to meet new people around you include the following:
- Say hello to the person in front of or behind you while you are waiting. You have to be there anyway, so you might as well make the best of it!
- Look for hobby or athletic groups in your area. They offer good inroads to meeting people with similar interests.
- Spend more time in the company break room. Alternatively, make it a priority to attend social gatherings for work, such as after-hours drinks at the local bar or company retreats as they become available.
- Chat up the person on the next treadmill when you are at the gym. You never know, you may find your next “accountabilibuddy” and find someone fun and inspiring to help challenge your workout routine.
Watch this video for one woman’s perspective on why you should meet new people.
Life can become mundane at times, and that is ok. When things are dull, and there is a lack of excitement, it is time to do something to make a change. Find new ways to challenge your mind and body. Pick up a crossword puzzle or play a game with your family. Learn a new language and a hobby to carry you forward in life. You can always continue learning and adding to your current skill set or try something completely new when you are ready for yet another challenge. Never stop learning new things, and keep on growing every day.
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