A Year of Trying Things: How Small Experiments Can Make Life Feel Bigger 

What is a “year of trying things”?

A year of trying things is a personal challenge to explore new activities, foods, places, skills, and routines over 12 months. The focus is curiosity rather than expertise: each experience is an opportunity to learn what feels enjoyable, useful, or worth doing again. 

A simple goal—trying one new thing per week—can create approximately 52 new experiences in a year. Those experiences do not need to be expensive, time-consuming, or impressive. A different lunch spot, a beginner class, a new walking route, or an unfamiliar book genre can all count. 

Key takeaways 

• Trying something once does not require a long-term commitment. 

• One new experience per week can add up to about 52 experiments per year. 

• New experiences can be free or low-cost. 

• Disliking an activity is still a useful outcome. 

• Smaller experiments are often easier to maintain than major lifestyle changes. 

• A brief reflection after each activity can help identify genuine interests and preferences. 

• The goal is exploration—not productivity, performance, or perfection. 

Why try new things for a year?

Daily routines can become efficient, comfortable, and repetitive. While familiarity has value, intentional novelty can help make everyday life feel more engaged. 

A year-long challenge creates a practical structure for acting on interests that might otherwise remain on a “someday” list. Rather than waiting for extra time, confidence, or motivation, participants can choose small, manageable experiences and schedule them like any other personal priority. 

The result may be a new hobby, a favorite local place, a useful skill, or simply a clearer understanding of what is and is not enjoyable. 

What counts as trying something new?

“New” does not need to mean dramatic. The best ideas are often accessible and easy to fit into an existing schedule. 

Food and drink 

• Cook with an ingredient that has never been used before. 

• Order a dish that is unfamiliar. 

• Visit a locally owned café or restaurant. 

• Try making a favorite meal without following a recipe. 

Movement and wellness 

• Take a different walking route. 

• Try a beginner-friendly yoga, dance, or strength class. 

• Visit a new park or trail. 

• Practice a short stretching or meditation routine. 

Creativity 

• Attend a beginner workshop. 

• Try sketching, photography, journaling, or collage. 

• Listen to a music genre that is usually overlooked. 

• Read a book from a new category. 

Learning 

• Watch a documentary on an unfamiliar topic. 

• Learn a few phrases in another language. 

• Take a free online lesson. 

• Visit a museum, historic site, or public lecture. 

Community and connection 

• Attend a local event. 

• Volunteer for a cause of interest. 

• Invite a colleague, friend, or neighbor to coffee. 

• Support a small business that has not been visited before. 

How to make the challenge sustainable

The most effective version of this challenge is flexible. A strict or expensive plan can turn a curiosity project into another source of pressure. 

Consider these guidelines: 

• Set a realistic cadence.
  Once per week is a manageable starting point, but twice per month may be a better fit for a busy season. 

• Keep a modest budget.
  Free activities, library programs, community events, public spaces, and at-home experiments all count. 

• Avoid overplanning.
  Start with a list of 15 to 20 ideas instead of planning all 52 weeks in advance. 

• Treat every outcome as information.
  An activity does not need to be enjoyable to be worthwhile. It may reveal a preference, boundary, or interest. 

• Document the experience briefly.
  A single sentence in a notes app or calendar can capture what was tried and whether it is worth repeating. 

A simple reflection practice 

After each experience, use these prompts: 

• What was tried? 

• What was surprising? 

• What felt enjoyable or difficult? 

• Would this be done again? 

• What did this reveal about personal preferences or routines? 

A short record can make the challenge more meaningful over time. It also prevents great ideas from being forgotten and makes it easier to identify patterns—such as a preference for hands-on activities, quiet weekends, outdoor time, or social events in smaller groups. 

Common lessons from a year of experimentation

A year of trying new things does not have to result in a dramatic reinvention. Often, the most valuable outcome is greater clarity. 

Participants may discover that: 

• They enjoy being beginners more than expected. 

• A familiar routine can benefit from small changes. 

• Not every popular activity is personally appealing. 

• New experiences often feel less intimidating after the first attempt. 

• Enjoyable activities are more likely to become lasting habits when they fit naturally into daily life. 

FAQs

How often should someone try something new? 

Once per week is a popular structure because it can produce about 52 experiences over a year. However, twice per month or once per month can also work. 

Does a new experience need to cost money? 

No. Many options are free or low-cost, including local walks, library events, new recipes, online tutorials, and community activities. 

What happens if a week is missed? 

Nothing needs to be restarted. Simply choose another experience when time allows. The challenge is meant to encourage curiosity, not create pressure. 

Does trying something once count? 

Yes. The purpose is exploration. Repeating an activity is optional and should be based on genuine interest. 

What if the activity is not enjoyable? 

That still counts as a successful experiment. Learning what is not a good fit can save time and help clarify preferences. 

Should the challenge be shared publicly? 

That is optional. A private journal, photo folder, or calendar note can be just as meaningful as posting updates online. 

Final thought 

A year of trying things is an invitation to make room for small moments of discovery. It is less about becoming a different person and more about becoming more present in everyday life. 

One new choice, one unfamiliar place, or one beginner-level experience at a time can make an ordinary year feel more expansive.