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Original poster

Give me 10 new things to try that'll open up neural pathways in the brain!

123 replies

CharlotteOwlFace · 23/02/2023 20:11

Or even just some ideas that will challenge me for the rest of the year

I've decided to do something different for the next 10 months. Something to take me out of my comfort zone and challenge me a bit.

A new skill every month

I've already mastered how to hula hoop and I'm currently reading something that I wouldn't normally ever consider

Thinking about learning how to do a Rubik's cube.

Any suggestions please?

Definite no to a language or a sport. Purely because I would like to be able to master it (or at least get the hang of it!) within the month

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Rebel2 · 23/02/2023 22:58

Aerial arts too - aerial hoop is fun

Aphrathestorm · 23/02/2023 23:02

Fancy skipping
Logic puzzles
Jewellery making
Stone painting
Coding
Bike and or car maintenance
Quilting
Soap making
Found poetry
Henna art

Original poster
CharlotteOwlFace · 23/02/2023 23:10

Car maintenance is something I could try tomorrow! My washer fluid needs replacing and my tyre pressures aren't right

I'd usually just ask my husband to do it but I'll attempt myself tomorrow! Shouldn't be hard should it

OP posts:
AndStand · 23/02/2023 23:14

Church bellringing. That's a decent challenge to the old brain cells!

Rebel2 · 23/02/2023 23:14

It's pretty easy, I do my tyres and washer fluid Smile plus you feel like you've achieved something!

Trying to think of other stuff
Making jewellery, some places do a one day workshop
Guided tour of somewhere new - locally we have a ghost tour thing and it ends with a meal so that's on my own list
Lush spa if you like that kind of thing or a treatment you haven't tried before

OhNoNotThatAgain · 23/02/2023 23:21

Listen to some music that isn't normally your thing. Swan Lake, the entire Beatles back catalogue, flamenco guitar, Irish jigs, steel drum bands, anything really.

medianewbie · 23/02/2023 23:24

What an interesting idea for a thread!

buckeejit · 23/02/2023 23:35

Tying a cherry stalk in a knot inside your mouth with your tongue.

Learning all the capital cities

I've started playing the ukelele & joined a group, it's easy & great-the group is the highlight of my week

RiverSkater · 23/02/2023 23:37

Juggling.

Magic tricks

Bike mechanics if you have one.

JaninaDuszejko · 24/02/2023 10:25

AndStand · 23/02/2023 23:14

Church bellringing. That's a decent challenge to the old brain cells!

That's a brilliat suggestion. Timely as well because of the 'Ring for the King' campaign to train more campanologists for the coronation.

SnowAndFrostOutside · 24/02/2023 10:27

But is it really a challenge if you can master it in a month? I'll suggest languages, musical instruments or sports. All of them require significant time investment.

ArtfulPuss · 24/02/2023 10:40

OP I know you said no sports, but if there's something you already do you could try a different 'angle' on it? I was on a similar mission last year and two of my things were a 10k night run, and a yoga class outdoors in the village orchard. Both gave me a different sensory experience of something familiar.

Also a mini-challenge I set myself during lockdown was to learn all the countries in Africa + their position on the map. It only took me a day, but I still periodically test myself to check I've still 'got it'! This is the website I used. Plenty of other options on there too:
www.world-geography-games.com

ArtfulPuss · 24/02/2023 10:45

See if there's a guided dawn chorus walk in your local area? International Dawn Chorus Day (!) is the first Sunday in May. Unfortunately this does mean getting up before 5am...

MrsSkylerWhite · 24/02/2023 10:46

Listen to a variety of new music. Better still, start to learn an instrument.

Greatly · 24/02/2023 10:48

Over lockdown I learnt all of the African countries and their capitals plus all the flags. I'm shit hot at Pointless now.

Greatly · 24/02/2023 10:48

ArtfulPuss · 24/02/2023 10:40

OP I know you said no sports, but if there's something you already do you could try a different 'angle' on it? I was on a similar mission last year and two of my things were a 10k night run, and a yoga class outdoors in the village orchard. Both gave me a different sensory experience of something familiar.

Also a mini-challenge I set myself during lockdown was to learn all the countries in Africa + their position on the map. It only took me a day, but I still periodically test myself to check I've still 'got it'! This is the website I used. Plenty of other options on there too:
www.world-geography-games.com

Great minds!!

Clutchstench · 24/02/2023 10:50

There’s a podcast called “Modern Wisdom.”

Binge on it. It will change your thinking.

evtheria · 24/02/2023 10:51

Learn binary arithmetic (or just to read/write binary numbers)

Learn to prep and cut veg* in all the diff ways, very fast, like a pro chef. I think there are YouTube vids on this.

Master handstands, even against the wall

Learn first aid

Do bouldering

Shoot hoops (basketball)

*Gov recommends you practice on turnips

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 24/02/2023 10:55

Amazon had some free books like "learn how to draw cats" and other animals and flowers etc. (I downloaded a whole bunch of them.) YouTube probably has some as well. So you could learn to draw a delphinium, or maybe paint watercolour poppies, some simple and cute and easy to do well (if not necessarily 'master').

Porridgeislife · 24/02/2023 10:56

Learning to sharpen a knife properly. Really useful if you like cooking and can be mastered over a couple of hours via YouTube.

FlamingoSocks · 24/02/2023 10:56

Learn to play the drums. Of course you won’t master jt in a month but if you have a lesson every week you’ll be able to play a simple groove and fill. All four limbs are doing something different and it’s absolutely amazing for your brain. I am always saying to DH that I can feel my brain forgoing new pathways when J am
practising!

Or do Draw with Rob on YouTube. It’s cute and you end up with really sweet little pictures and you WILL be able to do it.

foghead · 24/02/2023 11:06

Restore a piece of furniture. A nice armchair or side table.

Learn some rocket science.

Original poster
CharlotteOwlFace · 24/02/2023 11:09

@SnowAndFrostOutside maybe challenge was the wrong word to use? More 'd like to do some stuff with be never done before to get me thinking in different ways'

Unfortunately learning a new language is out. I don't want to do it so it would be a non starter.

My level is clearly more changing my washer fluid which I'm about to attempt 😀

OP posts:
audemoray · 24/02/2023 11:16

CharlotteOwlFace · 23/02/2023 20:23

@audemoray reading that open mic comedy thing literally made my stomach flip! That's terrifying Grin

I've never crocheted anything in my life. I don't think I could do it. So that's going on the list as it's a challenge but one that - if I can do it - wouldn't take long

😀. Fits the bill of out of comfort zone! Too much perhaps.

Since I typed that I've been getting adverts for somewhere called Citylink or somewhere (I have no connection with such a thing) providing tuition and classes in acting, comedy and voice training!

watcherintherye · 24/02/2023 11:23

Learning poetry or e.g. chunks of Shakespeare off by heart is meant to be good for us! Start with fairly short pieces, then build it up. One a month! Join an am-dram group. Learning lines also good.