Every Day Something New in June

On June 1, I decided to do something new every day for an entire month. The idea was to step out of my comfort zone, try new things in the city and my neighbourhood and do some of the things that had been on my list for a long time.

I never launch a challenge with much leeway; it’s decided on the spot, and we see it through. It turned out to be QUITE a challenge, and especially in the second half of the month, I fell a bit off the wagon. It might have been easier to prepare for it, but where’s the fun and spontaneity in that?! I ended up doing something new 21 days out of 30.

Here are some of the things I did, grouped into different categories:

Activities

I've done a few new activities, but not as many as I hoped, but I'll keep the list going for the rest of the year (more on that later):

• Checked out a new farmers market

• Run a 5km race in a pickle costume (haha - see picture)

• New running route

• New workout studio (as part of my Classpass subscription)

The condiments run :)

Things that were on my list for a while

We all have things we want to do "someday" and that day just never comes. So, as part of this challenge, I wanted to tick a few things off that list:

• Investment course for women by Mixedupmoney, a financial content manager from Calgary. (Confession: So far, I've only downloaded and printed it, but haven't started it yet)

• Try Huha Underwear: Huha is run by a Vancouverite, and produces breathable underwear.

• Try Odd Bunch: They deliver "odd" looking fruit and veggies straight to your home. We've received two small and one medium box so far, and I love them. It's sometimes a challenge to use all the different fruits and vegetables, but it has definitely increased my "green-intake" and creativity in the kitchen (many things end up in a smoothie though).

• Find a new creative hobby: So I've been trying to make necklaces and bracelets, and I love it. So far I've made two necklaces and one bracelet, and I've discovered two wonderful stores that sell beads: Beazu Wholesale and Country Beads.

Medium Box of Odd Bunch

Small things I could do at home

There were days when it was 8pm and I hadn't done anything new yet. That's when I needed to get creative. So here are two new things that I did from the comfort of my own home after 8pm. :)

• Watched a TV show from another country: "Crash Landing On You", a very popular Korean TV show.

• Started listening to a new podcast that my friend recommended: Normal Gossip.

• Did my first interview for my blog with Jenn Harper from Cheekebone Beauty.

New things related to food

You might notice that this list is pretty long,  and I tried not to do all new things about food at some point :)

• New lunch spot and taking a lunch break with friends during the week, also new: Yume 

• New dinner spot: Elio Volpe, a great Italian spot

• New coffee shop: Commercial Street Cafe

• Tried a new fruit: Durian

• New dessert: Mango Sticky Rice

• New ice cream flavour: We all do it - we go to an ice cream place, try a few new flavours, and then we pick one of our three favourites. Am I right? I didn’t try anything adventurous, but a flavour I wouldn’t normally go for: Cream Cheese

• New recipe: I don't have the link anymore, but it was some kind of pockets filled with chicken and pesto.
  

Our Elio Volpe order :)

What has stuck so far?

The hobby of making necklaces and bracelets is definitely something I'll take away from this project. I love it, and I just finished another necklace this weekend.

I’m still watching the Korean TV show, and really liking it, so that’s ongoing.

I've kept the weekly subscription to Odd Bunch, and plan to continue it.

I hope the investment course will lead to more courses and, of course, investments, haha.

Trying new restaurants and coffee shops is something we often do, so I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do so.

What’s still on my list?

What I love about such challenges is that they open your mind beyond the challenge, which in this case means beyond June. I still have a list of things that I would like to do, but didn’t have time for.

• Check out a local art gallery in my neighbourhood

• Try a new hike

• Go to an improv show

• Go to a local theatre

• Beach Cleanup

• Bouldering class

• Tennis course

• Go tech-free for 24-48 hours

• Yoga retreat

• Sound bathing

It's now a week into July, and I'm happy to say that I've already tried some completely new things, as well as some things I haven't done yet this year:

• Swam in a lake

• Went paddle boarding

• Published my very own newsletter (sign up for it here)

• Tried a new route on my morning walk with my dog

• Tried another new recipe

• Ran a new race

Picture by Jonathan Behnke

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I hope this challenge and this post inspire you to do your own new things. Life can be so convenient, and it's great when we challenge ourselves to do new things sometimes, even if it's just something small that breaks the routine or adds to it. I can't wait to see what you come up with next :)