Tips for Trying Something New

We’ve all felt the need to change things up from time to time. Sometimes, it hits you hard, and you need to make some instant changes; other times, it’s a slow and steady move away from what you are currently doing and towards things that feel more like you. 

It can happen at any time, really. Sometimes it’s when the kids are growing up a bit and you have more time for yourself. Other times, it is because you have set your creativity on a shelf for a while because you had to focus on your career or the care of others. 

Whatever the reason, moving towards trying new things can take a gentle nudge. So here are some tips to help you at least start to plan the stuff that you might want to try out. 

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Don’t Fear

One of the biggest things that holds us back can be fear. We worry about what people might say; we worry that we might not be able to do the ‘thing.’ And for many of us, we worry that we just don’t have what it takes to work on whatever it is we want to do. 

There is a famous saying, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” The only way you will take the class, make the painting, or wear that item is by just going ahead and doing it. 

List it

Start to think about all of the things that you haven’t done yet that you want to do – and then think about the things you have done, maybe once or twice, and you want to do again. Write them down, and pin them up somewhere. 

Make it a goal to tick one thing off a month or whatever feels comfortable for you. Ticking things off as you go serves two purposes – one is that you can enjoy the dopamine and joy from completing it, and the second is you have a visual aspect of what you are trying to achieve. 

For those who want to get a little more creative than pen and paper, use something like Canva to design something you love that will motivate you. 

Start Small

Two cliches that work are that “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and “Change takes time.” So, think about what it is you are trying to achieve and ask yourself – Is there a smaller version of that? For those who want to try art classes, is there a smaller taster session you can join to see if you enjoy it? Have you decided that you want to knit cardigans?  Try following an online tutorial for doing squares for a while.

Perhaps it’s your appearance that you want to change. Use online tutorials for things like contour, eyeliner, and pigtail braids (If you have willing children, these can be easier to practice on someone else first!). 

Look for a smaller version of what you want to achieve first, to help you decide if it is something you want to do and second to give you the confidence to go bigger. 

Go Easy On Yourself

A surprising number of people expect to be great at something they have never done before, just because they have a desire to do it. And when it doesn’t go right the first time, it can be really off-putting! So instead of being hard on yourself because your first piece of pottery looks like a melted bowl or your painting is less Picasso and more finger painting, try to enjoy the process and know that you will get better over time. And really, the most important part is that you enjoy it! 

Encourage Yourself 

No matter how great, good, or bad your results are, when you are trying something new, be proud that you are trying something new. It can be helpful to journal these thoughts as you go, so that you can look back on moments when you almost didn’t carry on and remind yourself just how far you’ve come. That is just one way journaling can be great for you; here are some others: How Journaling Can Benefit Your Life This Year – An Artful Mom. 

Keep these tips in mind and, hopefully, in a few weeks or months (or even years for big projects!), you’ll be creating, feeling, or looking the way you want. Trying something new can be scary, but ultimately, it can make our lives richer. 

Linking to:

Esme Salon, Mostly Blogging, Photo and Story Treasures, Thursday Favorite Things, Funtastic Friday, French Ethereal