Image from Te55

Life getting a bit mundane? Try some of these suggestions to help get you out of your rut.

1. Travel Alone

Friends not interested in going to Graceland with you? No one in your circle showing any enthusiasm for a trip to the US Treasury? Well, fret not – travel alone. Take a long weekend – book a flight, book a hotel and get some quality ‘me’ time. Spend your weekend exploring your new surroundings all by yourself. It can be exhilarating and liberating to discover new places by yourself and keep your own timetable. You want to go see 42 landmarks in 36 hours? Go for it; you want to stay in the hotel the entire weekend and read / go to the spa / watch 17 football games back to back – do it – you call the shots. Plus, I assure you that you will have at least one funny / weird story to regale your friends with when you return.

2. Discover New Music/Books/Movies

Get a few of your friends to download ten of their favorite songs for you to listen to. You may find new artists and music that you love. Hopefully you won’t be exposed to any Abba in the process. If your books tend to come from the fiction section – try something from the thriller or politics section – it could open you up to a whole new world. Similarly with movies – watch something you would normally avoid and get friends to recommend their favorites.

3. Join a class

When you were a kid, did you think that Kelly Slater was the coolest guy ever? Maybe you dreamed of being a figure skater like Michelle Kwan? Well, get thee to a class. Surfing, figure skating, rock climbing, archery – there is every conceivable class out there. You will learn a new skill, meet new people and reward your inner six-year-old self. And, if it turns out that you have the coordination of a horse on ice skates – not to worry – there are lots of other activities and classes to explore. Try a new one every six weeks or so until you find one you love.

4. Learn a new language

Have you ever romantically envisioned yourself ordering your latte – no whip – ‘en français’ in Paris? Or perhaps discussing soccer tactics in Spanish? Learning a new language is a great way to broaden your horizons. If you’re really brave – couple this challenge with number 1 above and travel alone to a place where your new language is spoken and test out just how quickly the immersion method of learning works.

5. Set a Goal

Whether it’s running a marathon, moving to Italy or trying to civilize the disorder that is your closet, setting a goal gives you something to work towards. Choose a goal that you have really wanted to achieve for some time – make it something major that you are really excited about. Break it down into manageable parts so that you don’t get overwhelmed and then you will have small successes along the way to keep you motivated. Regularly track your progress on pen and paper so that can chart your progress as you go.

6. Explore New Cuisine

Suspicious of seafood? Leery about liverwurst? Always eating the same fare at the same locale? Well, it’s time to experiment with some new delicacies – go to that sushi bar or try that Afghan place – you could discover a love for mantu, or you could discover you were right to be suspicious all along. Either way you will have stepped out of your comfort zone. On that note – don’t try anything that you suspect that you may be allergic to – you don’t want to shake your life up that much.

7. Take Time

We are often so busy with our careers and social lives that sometimes the days race by in a blur. That is part of what is so exciting and fun about being a young professional. But every month or so – take yourself out for a coffee or dinner with notepad and pen and think about where you are and where you are going. Listen to yourself without the voices of friends and family and ensure that you are following your own path.

8. Be Brave

Do one thing, or better yet several things, this summer that will scare the bejaysus out of you – sing in public, change your hair color, ask that person out, go skydiving, get a tattoo – there are a million options. Nothing beats that rush and feeling of accomplishment of doing something you never thought you could. So what are you waiting for?