Things to do for adults

A word of warning - stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t always pretty nor yet easy. Stimulate the brain, the mind and the body.

There are literally thousands and thousands of things you can do with your life but sometimes the cycle of commute, work, commute, meal, tv, bed, sleep, commute, work is a never ending rut that is so boring and safe it becomes comfortable. And twenty years on you look back and wonder at all you missed.

So with all those thousands of activities listed on Wubuto here are just a few ways of shaking yourself out of a comfort zone and giving your life a touch of spice.

Make new friends - that girl at work who doesn't say much, the person across the road that you often exchange a smile with but never take the time to say hello. Get to know your neighbours. It's not that hard and all it takes is a bit of time and you might make a life long friend to share many adventures with.

Learn to say no - Are you always the one doing the jobs nobody else wants to do, are you stuck in a dodgy relationship or friendship? Say no when someone asks you to do something that you don't want to and see what happens.

Learn to say yes - that invite from the girls at work to join them for Friday night drinks, the request from your mates to go mountain boarding - try saying yes for a change and see what happens.

No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work

Give a compliment a day - Take the time to tell someone, the shop girl, your co-worker, your wife, mum, etc that they look nice, smell nice, did something nice. And see their face light up - it's worth it!

Break a habit - smoking, drinking, eating, using the same coffee cup everyday...? Habits can be big or small but by seeing how you can break one can help you break the other less healthy ones.

Change your daily routine - If you drive to work the same way each day try a new route. If you always use the lift/elevator take the stairs. Even change the radio station you listen to or buying different toothpaste next time you shop.

Change what you wear - If you're a jeans person wear a suit, if you dress to the nines try going casual for a week. It's not something you have to do forever but note how people react to you when you dress differently. Not just surprise from people who know you but see how people you have never met before respond. It's eye opening.

Make a fool of yourself - Think of all the people you like who are less than perfect - in fact can you think of anyone you do like who is perfect? And remember the times they've acted the clown and not been afraid to appear foolish. Life is all about risk and sometimes the fear of appearing to be a fool is much worse than actually being a fool.

Campaign for something you believe in - Ban health and safety fruit cakes, campaign for cleaner beaches, the working week to be cut to four days - there must be a thousand things you wish could become a reality if only parliament could change a law - well what's stopping you?

Confront a fear - public speaking, spiders, germs, dentists, hair dressers - We all have something that frightens us yet when we confront that fear isn't the sense of achievement sooo empowering. Imagine if you could remove that fear forever more. How different your life could be - if only because you've added a bucket load more of self respect!

Start a new business - It might be something you've thought of for years and hey, who knows, it might not be that multimillion dollar idea that will buy you the life of your dreams. But how do you know if you don't try?

Make Time for Fun - All work and no play... well, you know the saying. Children get plenty of playtime because they need it to grow physically and mentally. Adults need to experience fun just as much as anyone. When is the last time you went to a movie with a friend? Went shopping with your mum? Had a just for fun date with your partner?

Take up a new sport for 8 weeks. If you like it stick with it, if you don't, find a new one and try that one for another 8 weeks etc. But do give it a bit of time. Chances are at first you are likely to feel unfit and lack ability but as you gain skills you might find that you thoroughly enjoy yourself.

Move your furniture around - Apart from giving the opportunity for a major spring clean it's astonishing how a different arrangement of furniture can change an angle and perspective of your life.

Go rambling - Join a rambling or hiking club and get out there to see the country. Rambling isn't for everyone but try it first. You meet people, get fitter, enjoy the countryside and fresh air and see places you mightn't normally consider visiting

Core strength - Learn to do yoga or pilate's or similar - build up your inner core strength. These skills are a huge asset to your health and well being. Having an inner strength can help protect against a variety of illnesses not least of all debilitating back pain

Learn to dance - again it gives you the opportunity to meet people, get fit and gain a skill

It takes courage to learn something new. To allow ourselves to be completely incompetent and perhaps even silly-looking for a short while. It takes courage to step out of our comfort zone - Megan Raphael

Be grateful - at the end of each day make it a habit to think of 3 things to be grateful for. That smile the toddler gave you this morning that made the sunshine feel warmer, the man who ran to give you back the wallet you dropped, the special offer in the supermarket for your favourite drink. So many small and inconsequential things happen each day but it's very easy to forget them.

Go travelling - whether it's driving to the next county or travelling to the far side of the world, meeting new people and cultures will certainly take you out of your comfort zone - try doing a trip around the world, travelling the Pacific crest trails, the El Camino, the opportunities are endless.

Take a class - learn to paint, sew, stained glass, woodwork, engine repair - you've no idea of the skills that you have lurking that have been buried by the lack of time

Star gaze - learn the constellations. Ever looked at the night sky and wondered? Stop wondering and learn which stars go where

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it - Ferris Bueller

Learn to play a musical instrument - nowadays you can buy a very cheap guitar or keyboard and you can learn to play music from free lessons on Youtube. The scope is enormous and imagine how impressed your family/kids/friends will be!

Sponsor a child or an animal - It takes very little - just a couple of pounds a month yet it can change someone's life from sheer misery to blossoming hope.

The Smile Train - Or similar. It takes just a few hundred dollars to repair a cleft palate and change someone's life from ostracism to acceptance - to give them a future. If you haven't got the money get together with friends or family and raise enough money to fund an operation. Yard sales, auctions, there are so many fun things that you can do and it's for such an amazing cause.

Do something for the environment - join or arrange a beach or river side clear up. Plant a tree. Grow your own vegetables, stop using plastic bags, refuse to use petroleum based cleaning materials. Not always easy!

Discover the meaning of life - your life. Explore the various ideals. challenge your beliefs by stepping outside your circle of faith (and your comfort zone) and ask yourself the questions you think you know the answers to.

Still not sure what to do? Here's a joke to remind you that opportunities don't come with a neon sign saying 'Pick me!!!'

There was a man that lived by the river. He heard a radio report that the river was going to rush up and flood the town. Residents should evacuate their homes.

But the man said, ‘I’m religious. I pray. I have faith. God loves me. God will save me.’

The waters rose up. A guy in a row boat came along and he shouted, ‘Hey, hey you! You in there. The town is flooding. Let me take you to safety.’ But the man shouted back, ‘God will provide.’

A helicopter was hovering overhead. And a guy with a megaphone shouted, ‘Hey you, you down there. The town is flooding. Let me drop this ladder and I’ll take you to safety.’ But the man shouted back that the Lord would provide.

Well… the man drowned. And standing at the gates of St. Peter, he asked to see God. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘I’m a religious man, I pray. I have FAITH. I thought you loved me. Why did this happen?’

God said, exasperated, ‘I sent you a radio report, a guy in a rowboat and a helicopter. What the hell are you doing here?”

So next time an opportunity comes to step out of your comfort zone - keep in mind that it might just be answer to a prayer.