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

[CharlotteOwlFace]

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

Go Ape. That'll certainly get the neurons firing!

Great thread though. Lots of interesting ideas for things to try. Hopefully others will too.

Another thing you could do is to learn the Highland Fling. It's an easy thing to learn and it's only around a minute long, and a good party piece. You could offer to demonstrate at a future gathering or party!

One example without music

Take an advanced driving course.

Go pony trekking or walking with lamas.

Learn to read music.

Learn to cook four or five dishes from a foreign cuisine.

Learn how to do mosaic work, and make something eg table top for the garden.

Cold water immersion, you could either do this at home or go to an outdoors spot, there are lots of groups on Facebook if you wanted to find somewhere local with people who can advise you how to do it safely.
Not exactly a sport (although you could swim if you want) but very physical and has an amazing effect on your mind. I was so stunned when I first tried it, clears the mind, lots of endorphins and addictive!

I think some of these have already been suggested but I want to say things I have enjoyed that have not had a high barrier to entry (cost, time, learning) and yielded fairly quick results and I want to placemark

Craft kits - Wool Couture for instance do a lovely weaving kit which gives you everything you need and you end up with a result in just a couple of hours. For crafts in general I also like modern calligraphy (just needs a few cheap bits to get started) and embroidery.

Cryptic crossword - my husband taught me how to do them in lockdown, but there are videos that can take you through it I expect. Some from the newspapers are easier than others and there is a fun free app I use as well.

DIY - I'm starting to just think 'maybe I could try doing that small task myself' VERY occasionally - YouTube videos will help. That often feels like enough new learning for a week or so!

Games - There are a few games that I play on my mobile that definitely feel like they help bits of my brain that don't get a lot of use in daily life. Monument Valley and Set are two very good ones.

Poetry - Find some prizewinning contemporary poetry or other literature, lots available free online. Attend an open mic near you, maybe perform something one day (they often don't require it to be something you've written).

I second Cryptic Crosswords, I taught myself how to do them in January.

Some cryptic crosswords are easier than others. I do them with a cup of coffee. Fascinating to hear you can be taught how to do them or there are shortcuts.. I thought you either know, or are able to work it out, or you can't.

Well, I managed the screen wash so go me!

I'll look at cryptic crosswords. I assumed you either could or you couldn't. Didn't realise there was a formula

Sign language? You could learn the alphabet wishing the month easily and then you’d be able to spell words even if you didn’t know the sign.

Attend a CPR/defibrillator session local to you to learn what to do in an emergency?

Im painting a glass jar at the moment (it started with my DS doing one as a dream jar from the BFG) and I’m really enjoying it. You could paint a vase or similar.

Rubik’s cube

another vote for bouldering

If my health was any good I would definitely try a couple of new sports in local clubs. The ones I've taken my kids to have been so so friendly and helpful for beginners and have kit so you don't have to invest.

Table tennis
Kayaking
Rollerskating

Or work towards a beginner nners event in a sport you can probably already do like walking, running, cycling or swimming.

I just started following @tommo.carroll on Instagram - "currently learning 30 skills in 30 days"

Archery. There are loads of clubs and they will often have starter sessions where you're taught how to shoot.

Touch typing.
Morse code.

You can get the very basics of a language in 30 days if you do something like Duolingo.

Maybe a non-Latin alphabet like Greek or Cyrillic? Not necessarily learning the meanings of words but being able to read it phonetically.

Can soon please tell me where can I learn cryptic crosswords?

How about Ai art? I think there is a lot of skill involved in giving the right instructions

Try one first see how you get on. I've never been taught anything and do them regularly. The Guardian and the Independent are good ones to start.

Mid journey is a most impressive tool

I know you say you can’t draw but surely that makes it all the more of a challenge? Instagram is AMAZING for learning to draw; people break things down so simply and show the stages as they go along. It’s a skill like any other and you can definitely learn it. If you look up “doodle tutorial” you’ll see very simple shapes etc. Or adult colouring is fun, can be as simple or challenging as you want and there’s so much nice stuff to buy endlessly browse online.

Great ideas there, thanks OP for starting this thread.

Impressed by those of you who are attempting to learn to play an instrument, I tried keyboard but just could get my head around reading music, I must have lost that part of the brain.

I recently made a magic square photo cube (took a couple of hours only), prototype for now using some calendar images but will progress to photos next time.

www.chicaandjo.com/magic-folding-wooden-photo-cubes/

Buy yourself a bonsai tree.
Learn to play a role-playing game.
Volunteer at your local food bank.
Read the biography of someone you’ve never heard of.
Do a crossword or sudoku puzzle everyday.
Buy the Financial Times and try to work out what it all means.
Write a children’s story.
Set up a website without using an online template.
Join a church.
Start a vegetable garden.

That’s my ten ideas.

Try an activity holiday. I went on a kayaking one, never been in a kayak in my life beforehand. It makes you feel like you’ve gained another planet/world. I am a strong open water swimmer, but even so, the perspective you get from crossing a lake in a kayak is amazing and very different from swimming in it. Felt a bit like learning to drive. On water. I’m lucky where I live I can launch it on the river, kayak to the pub, wait for the tide to carry me back home. Found like minded people and we go together in the summer.

The other thing I did was to take the bike on the train, get off and cycle back home. It was about 40k and my arse hurt, but it was fun.

I did a one day calligraphy course, I enjoyed that.

Did a one day course in wreath making, been making my own ever since.

I tried the scariest looking class at my gym (body pump). I was hooked. I also tried Zumba thinking it’s a bit of dancing. FML IT IS NOT!!!

I went to Homebase one morning and bought paint, came home, painted the whole room, put everything back in by the evening. I worked like mad. When my ExP came home he though he got in the wrong house. I just wanted to see if I can do it.

I had 4 days off in a row unexpectedly one time. I booked a last minute city break, I think I paid £120 for 2 night and flights, but by the next morning I woke up in Germany buying pastries and coffee, that was a bit surreal. Couldn’t even point Frankfurt on a map, but didn’t particularly care.

Have fun.

A cryptic crossword isn't exactly east is it?

Pondering the first clue

Stir cocktail (7)

So I initially thought it was an anagram of cocktail. But that's 8 letters. And now I'm just pondering

But you could learn the alphabet so you can finger spell. Always useful.

can you juggle?

Thanks for this. Just found it on Spotify