{"id":14160,"date":"2023-02-27T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?p=14160"},"modified":"2023-08-30T14:13:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T18:13:35","slug":"how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Variety is the spice of life. Encountering new joys and new challenges is how you manifest continued personal development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although growth and change may seem like frightening prospects when you\u2019re in stasis, that perspective shifts so quickly once you start shaking things up for the better.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trying new things is a great way to have more fun\u2014but the benefits of doing so are much deeper than that alone. Striking out into unknown territory takes no small amount of bravery, and harnessing that courage will help you lead a more confident life. Plus, when you experience things differently, you start to think differently, too. You may find social situations that used to cause you great anxiety\u2014like meeting new people, or branching out into unfamiliar activities\u2014become much easier to handle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, making a habit of trying new things leads to less boredom, less complacency, and more happiness. So dip a toe into the sea of possibility! One small commitment on your part has the potential to change your entire life\u2019s journey. You could develop a powerful new skill that improves your career, discover a burning passion or new favorite hobby, and connect with people who turn out to be true friends. Follow the tips below and you\u2019ll be well on your way toward new beginnings.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-560x315.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-1120x630.jpg 1120w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/donald-giannatti-HWTXldFPVKM-unsplash-edited-2048x1153.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make a bucket list&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a simple, straightforward method of thinking about the things you want to do before you \u201ckick the bucket.\u201d Because bucket lists are unique to each individual, they require a bit of soul-searching. But there\u2019s no need to be overwhelmed\u2014your bucket list could (and probably should) change and grow over time as you do. You don\u2019t need to itemize every single goal in life\u2014just get started with whatever comes to mind!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, bucket list items can be both active and experiential. For example, <em>Learn how to sail <\/em>would be as valid an entry as <em>See the northern lights<\/em>. Take a few moments for honest reflection without getting too far ahead into the planning stage. The point isn\u2019t to immediately route a course toward checking off every bucket list item, but rather to look down at your bucket list and learn what it reveals about yourself and your priorities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Search for activities by time and location&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever been to a restaurant with a massive menu, you may have experienced the sensation of being overwhelmed by too many good options. Pursuing new activities in life can be a similar experience. When you ask yourself what you want to try, it\u2019s both a blessing and an obstacle to be confronted with limitless possibilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes imposing a few basic limitations can actually help keep you grounded by providing some structure. In cases like this, the old adage <em>less is more <\/em>rings true. To prevent choice paralysis, you could try using Meetup\u2019s event search map to find events that are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">taking place near you<\/a>, then choosing from that pared-down list.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of feeling the need to isolate one perfect event that\u2019ll rocket you toward a new hobby or skill, you can just choose an event that\u2019s decently intriguing and easy to get to! If you attend and realize that the group is a perfect fit for you, that\u2019s great! And if not, you\u2019ll have taken a really big step on your journey of self-discovery.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re struck by sudden inspiration, you can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/why-the-new-happening-now-search-filter-is-a-game-changer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cStarting soon\u201d filter<\/a> in Meetup\u2019s event search to find activities (both in-person and online) happening right now! Follow the <em>just do it <\/em>principle by picking something\u2014anything\u2014that\u2019s taking place today. You might be rewarded with an awesome experience. No matter what, you\u2019ll definitely deserve to feel proud of yourself for giving it a shot.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grab the bull by the horns&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another method is to pursue exactly the activities that\u2019ve intimidated you in the past. Taking a challenge head-on is all the more rewarding when it\u2019s one that really speaks to you\u2014perhaps one that you\u2019ve been avoiding for a while.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve secretly got the acting bug, take the plunge with a group like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/acting-workshops-for-all-ages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acting Workshops for All Ages<\/a>. To help yourself finally write the first paragraph of your novel, you could join a motivation session with a group like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/shutupandwritemiami\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shut Up &amp; Write!\u00ae Miami<\/a>. Even if you\u2019re a total beginner in fitness, you could join a group like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/dashing-whippets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dashing Whippets Running Team<\/a> that often hosts easy workouts tailored to newcomers. And if you\u2019re a language lover, don\u2019t let being bilingual continue to be a pipe dream\u2014find a group like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/free-spanish-speaking-drills-online-everyday-san-diego\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Free Spanish Classes &#8211; San Diego<\/a>, and improve your skills one day at a time.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bring a friend&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t have to go it alone. Bring a buddy when trying out a new activity with new people, so you have that social anchor. You can even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/lp\/how-to-group-start?utm_medium=SEM&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_campaign=mmrk_adwords_orgacq_us_branded&amp;utm_term=group&amp;utm_content=lp_grp_v2&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiA99ybBhD9ARIsALvZavUTC061Cq3RtJfwuILHqHgHxjAGTxv0LMCOnmpUDD58azKiqKQJW_4aAqkXEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">create your own Meetup group<\/a> dedicated to new activities, and invite friends, relatives, coworkers, and other people in your community to join you on the adventure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"post-excerpt\"><p>Unfamiliar activities may be daunting, but trying something new has the potential to be profoundly life-changing.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":14161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0 - Meetup Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0 - Meetup Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Unfamiliar activities may be daunting, but trying something new has the potential to be profoundly life-changing.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Meetup Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-08-30T18:13:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/try-new-things_meetup-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Meetup Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Meetup Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Meetup Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914\"},\"headline\":\"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-08-30T18:13:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\"},\"wordCount\":887,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Stories\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\",\"name\":\"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0 - Meetup Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-08-30T18:13:35+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Meetup Blog\",\"description\":\"Community Matters\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Meetup\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png\",\"width\":130,\"height\":124,\"caption\":\"Meetup\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914\",\"name\":\"Meetup Team\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Meetup Team\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0 - Meetup Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0 - Meetup Blog","og_description":"Unfamiliar activities may be daunting, but trying something new has the potential to be profoundly life-changing.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/","og_site_name":"Meetup Blog","article_published_time":"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-08-30T18:13:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1440,"url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/try-new-things_meetup-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Meetup Team","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Meetup Team","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/"},"author":{"name":"Meetup Team","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914"},"headline":"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0","datePublished":"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-08-30T18:13:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/"},"wordCount":887,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Stories"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/","name":"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0 - Meetup Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-08-30T18:13:35+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/how-to-try-new-things-and-why-they-matter\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Try New Things (and Why They Matter)\u00a0\u00a0"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/","name":"Meetup Blog","description":"Community Matters","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Meetup","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/meetup-logo-swarm.png","width":130,"height":124,"caption":"Meetup"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/c0db661585f6f7c458bb56961918a914","name":"Meetup Team","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9aba46ee9b739a3dabdad003540a60bc?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Meetup Team"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14160"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14160"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17495,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14160\/revisions\/17495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}