Challenge yourself every day. It sounds so simple, but it’s not always easy to do! We challenge ourselves in many ways throughout the day, whether it’s trying a new recipe or taking the stairs instead of an elevator.
And this is what makes life so interesting. But challenge isn’t just about external things- challenge yourself internally too by asking different questions and thinking outside of your comfort zone!
Here are 25 ideas for you to start today that will challenge your brain and make you feel more alive.
What It Means to Challenge Yourself
When we challenge ourselves, we are expanding our comfort zone and learning new things. This can be scary at first, but it’s also exciting. And by doing this on a regular basis, we’re opening up the possibility for growth in all areas of our lives.
By challenging ourselves on a daily basis, we’re also setting the tone for the rest of our day. We’re more likely to take risks, try new things, and be adventurous.
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1. Start a book club.
Ask your friends to join you in reading one inspirational or self-help book per month, and then meet up with them once every two weeks for about an hour just to discuss the latest challenge, idea, or quote that you read from the book. You can also challenge yourself by picking a topic each time based on what was said in the book that you read last.
Get your friends to challenge themselves and see how they can improve on what was said in the previous meeting. You will be surprised at all of their stories and ideas! And who knows, maybe someone else’s story or idea might spark a challenge for yourself too?
2. Change your daily route to work.
Use Google Maps or an offline app to challenge yourself by taking a different path from what you normally take every day. You will be surprised at how many new things and sights can catch your eye as you walk around.
3. Take a fitness class at your gym.
Challenge yourself to try something entirely new, like Zumba, spin, or yoga! Not only will you challenge yourself physically, but also mentally by stretching and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.
Try joining classes on the weekends when there are fewer people around- this makes it easier for you to say yes when the instructor asks you to try something new.
4. Learn a new language.
Challenge yourself to learn a new language in the next year. Duolingo offers free, bite-sized lessons that can easily be completed on your phone or computer. And by the end of the year, you’ll have learned quite a bit!
Plus, think about all of the amazing experiences you will have because you taught yourself to learn a new language! You will be able to challenge yourself with the locals and get immersed in their culture.
See if there is an international student organization at your university, high school, or workplace that can help you find teachers who are willing to teach for free.
5. Read a book.
Challenge yourself to read every day for 15-30 minutes on topics that challenge you and your beliefs. Reading is one of the best ways to challenge ourselves if we do it with intentionality instead of just letting our eyes trail over words because they’re there! Be sure to challenge yourself by reading books about something completely different than what you normally read.
6. Take on a new hobby.
Challenge yourself to try a new hobby this year! Whether its painting, hiking or cooking- trying something completely new can be really exciting (and sometimes challenging). If you’re having trouble picking a new hobby, think about what your hobbies were when you were younger and challenge yourself to do one of those things again.
7. Watch TED Talks.
Challenge yourself to watch one TED Talk per day on a variety of different topics. This is a great way to challenge yourself mentally and learn something new each and every day!
Plus, you’ll be able to challenge yourself by sharing your favorite talks with your friends and family members and sparking interesting conversations about the topics that challenge you the most.
8. Talk to new people.
Challenge yourself to talk to new people every day. This can be frightening but it’s also really rewarding when you see the connections that you make with other people. Not only will this help you challenge yourself mentally, but socially as well!
Plus, talking to new people is a great way to learn about new experiences and challenges that other people have taken on.
9. Speak with a clear, confident voice.
Challenge yourself to speak with a clear, confident voice. Practice speaking in front of a mirror or ask a friend to help you practice your speeches or presentations.
The more often you challenge yourself to speak with a clear and confident voice, the easier it will become.
10. Be a leader.
Challenge yourself to be a leader in your community, workplace, or school. This can involve taking on new challenges and responsibilities as well as actively working to make things better for those around you.
Plus, being a leader is a great way to challenge yourself mentally and physically. You will likely find that you are constantly learning and growing as a leader.
11. Be more patient.
Challenge yourself to be more patient this year by actively practicing patience in all areas of your life. This can be difficult, but it’s definitely worth the challenge!
Plus, being more patient will help you challenge yourself emotionally and mentally as well. You’ll be less reactive and more able to think through difficult situations.
12. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
Challenge yourself to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. This is a great way to get in some extra exercise.
Plus, taking the stairs can be a challenge for those of us who are used to taking the easy way out. It’s definitely worth challenging ourselves by taking the stairs whenever possible.
13. Put your phone on airplane mode for an hour every day to disconnect from social media and other distractions.
Put your phone on airplane mode for an hour every day to disconnect from social media and other distractions.
During this time, challenge yourself to do something that requires concentration, like reading or writing. You’ll likely find that you’re more productive when you’re not constantly distracted by social media and other electronic devices.
14. Drink more water.
Challenge yourself to drink more water this year. Drinking more water can help improve your mood, energy level, and overall health. Plus, it’s a challenge that’s easy to accomplish but hard to maintain!
15. Wake up earlier in the morning.
Challenge yourself to wake up earlier in the morning so that you have more time to do the things that you want to do. It is definitely worth it once you get into a routine.
Waking up early also allows you to challenge yourself mentally and physically. You’ll be able to get a head start on your day and accomplish more!
16. Take care of yourself.
Challenge yourself to take better care of yourself this year by eating healthier, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. It’s definitely worth it in the long run!
You’ll be less stressed out and better able to handle challenging situations.
17. Be more positive.
Challenge yourself to be more positive this year by looking for the good in every situation. Being more positive will help you challenge yourself emotionally and mentally. You’ll be less likely to dwell on negative thoughts and emotions.
18. Give back to your community.
Challenge yourself to give back to your community this year by volunteering your time or donating money or supplies. There are many ways to contribute and you can choose something that matches your interests and abilities.
Contributing to your community is a great way to challenge yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically. You’ll be helping others while also learning new things and expanding your horizons.
19. Get rid of any clutter that is in your personal space.
Challenge yourself to get rid of any clutter that is in your personal space. Getting rid of clutter can help improve your mood and make it easier to focus on the things that are important to you.
20. Be confident in your own skin.
This year, challenge yourself to be confident in your own skin. You don’t need to change who you are to be successful.
Confidence is key, and it’s something that can be developed over time. Do little things each day to be the best version of yourself possible!
21. Take care of your mental health.
Challenge yourself to take better care of your mental health. This means taking the time for self-care, seeking help when you need it, and being more mindful.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, so make sure to challenge yourself in this area as well!
22. Learn something new every day.
Challenge yourself to learn something new every day. This could be a new fact, how to do something, or a new skill. You’ll be expanding your knowledge and growing as a person.
23. Be more organized.
Challenge yourself to be more organized this year. Organization can help improve your productivity and reduce stress. There are many ways to be more organized, so find one that works best for you and challenge yourself to stick with it.
24. Try something new that you’ve never done before.
Try something new each day, this year. This could be something as simple as trying a new
You’ll be expanding your horizons and learning new things. What’s not to love about that?
25. Look for the good in every situation.
Look for the good in every situation. This can be tough, especially when you are having a bad day but it’s definitely worth it in the end.
When you challenge yourself to look for the good, you’ll be happier and more positive overall. And that is definitely something to strive for.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! 25 simple ways to challenge yourself every day this year. Use these challenges as a starting point and come up with your own ideas to challenge yourself in different areas of your life. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish!
