Anyone fancy a Do something new every day thread?

[woodcutbirds]

Been discussing how much it helped kick me out of depression to do something - anything - every day that I'd not done before or not since childhood, or something I was scared to do. It made more difference than anything else.
Does anyone fancy having a go at doing something new every day for a week?

I would be willing to give this a try! Try anything right now! What would be on your list? I'm actually off work for depression so doing one new thing a day for a week sounds achievable and quite timely. I need to make a list...

I’m in @woodcutbirds

I'm in :)

Brilliant.
The idea is to make a list of things you've never done. Start with some very easy things and add a few small challenges. Make the list longer than just seven things, so you can choose what you fancy and don't feel pressured to do something specific. It's fun.

Easy ideas
walk or drive a route you've never taken before
explore a nearby area you always thought looked interesting
cook a new recipe
go to a new cafe
order a drink you've never tasted before (watch out - you start off having a flat white instead of an americano and end up ordering beetroot latte with rose petals sprinkled on it - it was really nice, amazingly! )
try a fruit you've never tasted before
and a veg
play a band or singer you've never heard before on spotify or you tube
tune to a new radio station
have breakfast (or lunch or dinner) in the garden
watch/feed the birds
stargaze with binoculars
look at stuff under a microscope (feathers and petals are amazing)

Bit more ambitious
Go to a gig of music you've never listened to before (I ended up going to quite a few death metal bands with DS and even loved some of them by the end.)
Take a day trip somewhere new
Apply for a new job
Visit somewhere you've always meant to go to but never got round to
Visit a weird museum (like Dennis Severs candlelit house or the underground railway postal museum - both in London if you are near.)
Dress in a completely different style.
Try on clothes out of your comfort zone - e.g. vintage or designer (my sis made me buy clothes in a charity shop - I'm a bit OCD about hygiene so never would usually. But I still wear them.)
learn a song on the guitar
or learn some phrases of a new language on duolingo
sign up for a free online course
start a gratitude journal or a bucket list or a dream diary
read some poetry or a play
listen to an opera or a piano concerto
try a new sport
try a new form of transport (unicycle, skateboard, scooter, moped, rickshaw, pony etc)
smile and say hello to every stranger you pass for a day
compliment a stranger
play a new game with DC
climb a tree
hug a tree (weirdly, really a nice feeling)

Please add lists - I'd love some ideas.
And definitely add what you do each day.

DC (teens) are both out tonight so I plan to light the fire pit and some lanterns and get DH to have dinner with me outside, just the two of us. Never done that before unless we have guests.

It poured with rain so I didn't. Staring today instead.
Today I:
did a backward handstand against the wall. I am overweight and mid Fifties but saw a man doing one on FB yesterday and thought 'that doesn't look too hard.' Stand with heels against a wall. Put hands on ground, climb feet up wall and then lean your weight into your hands.
Good fun. Though could only keep it up for five seconds before collapsing! Was rubbish at gym at school so not done many handstands of any kind, let alone a back-facing one. (It's very easy, unlike real handstands)

I’m away camping this weekend with my family at a place we’ve been dozens of times before so struggling to think of something or somewhere new to try. However, just before dinner my husband and did swapsies and he looked after the baby while I played football and practiced keepie with 10yo DS which was definitely a change from the norm and even though my skills were lacking he was clearly delighted and we were in fits of laughter 😂

*keepie uppies!

Good work on the handstand!

Brilliant! Keepy-uppies. That's a fantastic one.

@ADHDme and @Ceebeegee - are you still in? Even if you just listen to one new song on Youtube before bed you've done it.

Coffee really glad your new thing ended up with you and your son in fits of laughter together. That's the best outcome!

Great idea woodcutbirds, I think I will join you! I was actually thinking about this recently. I have been struggling with depression for several years, and am now starting to spend more time on hobbies and enjoy myself a bit more. But I'm very much a creature of habit: I knit but just basic squares that I could do in my sleep. Always cook the same meals. And so on.

So... today I took my DDs to the women's FA cup final. First time I've been to see women's football live, and first time I've taken both DDs. We all had a fantastic day.

Wow, Mrs K that is a brilliant one! I'm going to put that on my list.

Very small ‘new thing’ today. Did my hair a little differently...Centre parting rather than the usual side parting and plaited. Still prefer the side parting but hey ho! I also crossed a river by stepping stones rather than taking the bridge!

Anyone else?

My first new thing yesterday was listen to relaxation music in bed. Found one on YouTube.

Today was ride on a ferris wheel. Never been on one before because I hate heights. So went on one at the seaside today. I was terrified and I had my eyes closed for most of the time but at least its a step in the right direction getting out of my comfort zone.

Not sure what tomorrow's thing will be, probably something simple like listen to a new genre of music or a radio station that I've never listened to before.

These are brilliant! Well done on the ferris wheel Ceebee - did you feel good about yourself afterwards for daring to do it? And the plaits and stepping stones Coffee. Tiny things like new hair styles are really good shifts I think. Just nudges us out of habits.

Today (day 2) I made an origami crane. I used to make them when I was a kid but I'm mid-fifties now and haven't for decades, so followed a Youtube video. I was growling with frustration so much both DC asked what was wrong. But I did get there in the end and it looks quite lovely. Supposed to be good luck charms. Good way to practise being less impatient, anyway.

I learned to crochet a couple of years ago, but have always just done granny squares.

Today I got out a crochet book that DH gave me when I first learned - it has been gathering dust- and I tried 2 new beginner's patterns. A bit daunting at first, but I got there!

That's a great list! I'm not very good at advance planning at the moment, more of a day it on the day...so today I downloaded an Binaural Beats app for meditation. Really helped as was feeling on and off poorly. I also introduced my mum to it and she found it relaxing so that was nice too. Tomorrow is housework but will think of something new too.

I'm in if I can join. I'm very ill and it's taking a toll on my wellbeing as I've no idea what the future holds. I'll think on what I can do.

Welcome @BloomedAgain So sorry you are ill right now. If it helps - I started doing this when I had the worst depression of my life. I was terrified by it. And of all the things I did (exercise, ADs, meditation etc, this was the one that helped most.)
Do something really easy to start with. Just sitting in bed listening on youtube to hits from when you were a teenager counts if you've never done it before.
Or nicking your DP's shower gel and washing in a 'man' scent. (I'm assuming a partner and that they're male there, but you get the idea - just something to faintly shake up the routine that has dragged you down this far. Any gentle change has to be an improvement on the current state.)

@ADHD glad you joined us. That crocheting sounds good. I know from my attempt at origami yesterday how challenging it can be to try a tricky new craft. Definitely not my strong point! Good luck with it.

Today's a bit of a challenge. I'm meeting my parents (difficult history there) but for the first time in years, DH and DC have all decided to come along and support me. (DH hasn't seen them for donkey's years because my DF is so difficult.) We'll be out all day and I know I usually take a week to recover mentally from being with my father as he's such a subtle bully. So I've planned ahead. Making a very easy but new recipe tonight for when we get back.

Thank you @woodcutbirds. I've just ordered a fragrance from my carefree youth. There'll be some 90s youtube videos on later. My way of destressing used to be exercise but that's not really possible now.
Good luck with the family visit!

Hi all, and welcome @BloomedAgain. Hope today’s day with the family went as well as it could @woodcutbirds. I haven’t really done a ‘new thing’ yet today as this morning was spent packing up from camping, followed by getting stuck in traffic on the way home, followed by unpacking everything this end and then the usual dinner, bath and bed for the kids. And that’s my day gone! Someone on another thread I started suggested that I start a daily gratitude journal and I bought myself a lovely notebook on Friday and haven’t written anything in it yet! So maybe that can be my new thing for today. So here it goes. Three things I am grateful for:

1. My three children. Obviously. DS is 10 and has a heart of gold and the patience of a saint. He is old enough to know I am not myself at the moment and asks me every day how my day has been and if I’m ok. Sometimes he just puts his arms around means gives me a hug or puts his hand into mine just because and I love him for it. DD is 6 and tells me every day that I’m the best Mummy in the whole wide world and that I’m beautiful, not because she thinks I need to hear it, but because she actually believes it. And DD2 is 11months and sees magic in everything which is the most wonderful therapy for a person like me who has lost that ability. Her beautiful little face lights up when she sees me and her toothy little grin lights up my world ❤️
2. My husband. Things are a bit shit between us right now but he is still here not giving up on us and still making me laugh when I need it the most.
3. Hot showers. So this weekend’s camping was absolutely freezings no I spent most of it feeling far too cold. It was so lovely coming and having a really lovely hot shower and defrosting 😊

Coffee your gratitude journal brought a lump to my throat. DC have the ability to make life worthwhile when nothing else has that power. Sorry that the camping trip was so chilly. You are brave.

Today was OK. I was glad my lovely DC were there.

Today's new thing was a very easy recipe. BBQ chicken (leftovers from yesterday baked with mozzarella with homemade fresh pesto (which was really lovely) in wraps with salad. Haven't made pesto in decades and haven't made that recipe before. DC loved it, so it counts.

I haven't forgotten this! I think yesterdays and today's new thing has to be cleaning my home and doing all my laundry as I hadn't done this in ages. I also read a new magazine. Feeling super positive and just about ready to make my list!

I love fresh pesto! A gratitude journal is a lovely idea. There is a daily gratitude thread somewhere on mumsnet.

I also tried frozen (then defrosted) avocado - it works!

Does the avocado go mushy? My new thing was going to a physio.