*This article contains affiliate links.
It’s very easy to settle into a routine and do the same thing day after day, week after week, year after year. Unfortunately though, if you don’t actively try to change for the better, you’ll scramble to adapt when your world inevitably changes.
Just think about how years of unhealthy habits lead to health problems, and to be able to live normally you’ll be forced to change your diet, exercise, or take medications. Remember, we get older and weaker, prices get higher, and newer industries and technologies replace the old. That’s just how the world works.
Well if we’re going to change things anyway, why not have fun with it and learn new hobbies and stuff for the new year? After all, there’s a saying that if we’re not growing, we’re dying, and one way to keep ourselves mentally fit and young at heart is to try new things.
If you ask me for my plans this year, here are some new things I want to try:
1. Learn to use a planner.
I usually use a weekly checklist plus I write my daily tasks on a notepad, but it’s actually fun to plan things several weeks or months in advance and then cross them out when you’re done. It feels fulfilling, and it makes you more productive too. I personally use a nice locally-made Stradmore planner from National Bookstore, and a smaller Muji notebook and planner. Aside from that, I also use the free Google Calendar app on my phone.
2. Learn travel writing and travel photography.
Remember how I started OneAdventurer.com because I wanted to write about my adventures? After browsing travel books on Fully Booked and National Bookstore, I noticed they have a different tone and the selection of photos are very unique and I want to learn those techniques too. Come visit my travel and adventure website here!
3. Research travel destinations.
After traveling to Baler in the Aurora province, I realized that there are just so many nice travel destinations that I want to go to but I simply haven’t thought about them, and that’s probably true for you too. The more we learn about the world, the more opportunities we’ll have and the broader our horizons will become.
4. Learn Clip Studio Paint.
I create digital art as a hobby and I feel like Adobe’s Photoshop subscription is quite expensive ($10 a month). I did receive a 2-year license for CSP from my Wacom Intuos Comic Tablet, but I never really used it until now. It’s going to be a difficult transition but hey, we can learn just about anything with a little practice.
5. Donate old stuff.
Catherine Ponder taught something called the “vacuum law of prosperity” and it means that if you want to make room for newer and BETTER things in your life, you have to let go of the old as well as the things that no longer work. We usually keep so much stuff we don’t need just because we don’t want to throw them away. Well if we want more blessings in life, we have to let them go, and that’s why I’m donating the stuff I no longer use to charity.
6. Practice speedreading.
One of Stephen Covey’s “habits of highly effective people” is called “sharpening the saw”. You have to continuously practice to STAY competent at what you do, because if you don’t, you’ll forget and you’ll get bad at it. While I’ve read so many books about personal finance, investing, self improvement and more, I can’t remember every single lesson that I’ve learned. The least I can do, however, is review them more often and use them when I can.
7. Try kenjutsu.
Hey, you gotta try a fun new sport or hobby at least once in a while and this was one I’ve always wanted to try. While nothing beats a real teacher or coach, we can all at least start by checking out a few books and instructional videos online.
That’s just my personal list and I have no doubt I’ll learn other things (and give up others) as the year progresses.
What about you? Are you planning to try anything new this year? Tell us in the comments section below!