How To Start Something New: 9 Essential Tips
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One of my intentions this year is to step out of my comfort zone each quarter. I’ve been working toward this goal for the last few years, but honestly, it hasn’t quite taken off. That’s why I’ve realised I need to be a bit more specific and intentional about it.
Starting something new can often feel daunting, can’t it?
Whether it’s trying something new a bucket list item, exploring different aspects of yourself, transforming your career or experimenting with a new activity in an attempt to get your mojo back, it can be challenging. It doesn’t matter how big or small the ‘new thing’ might be or how much we might be telling ourselves it’s exciting, we can still feel a little apprehensive or even scared.
As I’ve ventured into unfamiliar territory trying new activities and approaches, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the challenge of starting from scratch and feeling like a complete novice. Yes, it’s uncomfortable and, at times, daunting and yes, a bit scary!
(Side note - this discomfort has helped me truly understand my clients’ hesitation when contemplating a new step!)
Based on my experiences over the last few years and more recently, as I push myself to stretch and try new things, here are some practical tips to help you start something new without feeling too overwhelmed.
9 Tips for Starting Something New
1.Start Small
Yes, always. It’s tempting to make a splash and try something completely different that will be a ‘big’ stretch. I get it; it’s exciting and might look amazing on your socials, as well as being a great thing to (quietly) boast about. But they are not great reasons to do something new.
Instead, I recommend starting with a small, manageable activity, not too far beyond what you currently do. This approach allows you to practice, build skills, and succeed. Quick wins boost motivation and reassure you that you’re on the right track, making the journey less overwhelming and more manageable. (Read this or this for more about the benefits of starting small).
In my case, I wanted to learn a new language. I *could* have enrolled at a local language school or joined an evening class. But these felt too big when the last time I had been in a language learning situation was more than 30 years ago! So, instead, I started small and created a free Duolingo account. At the time of writing, I’ve been practising French daily for more than two years — baby steps for the win.
2. Set Clear Goals
Writing down your Goals Acts as a powerful reminder
Before you begin, visualise the outcome. It might be trying something new for fun, developing a new skill, wanting a new job or career, doing more purposeful work, or feeling happier and more confident. Whatever it is - write it down!
This is your WHAT.
Setting a clear, well-articulated intention or goal will keep you focused and determined and give you a sense of direction.
So, with my learning French example, the WHAT was that I wanted to speak and understand French well enough (i.e. passably) for tourist-level conversation. This meant I needed to learn more than the few words and phrases I recalled from high school but not how to write an essay.
3. Clarify Why
Get clear on your WHY
Before moving forward with your plans or goals, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the underlying reasons for wanting to achieve them.
Understanding your motivations can provide clarity and direction. It can also help you stay committed and focused when faced with challenges along the way. By pausing to consider why you want a specific outcome or goal, you can gain valuable insights that will guide your actions and decisions moving forward.
This step is essential for setting meaningful and purpose-driven objectives, so unless you’re trying something new only once and purely for fun, don’t skip it!
Continuing with my French example, I wanted to be able to speak and understand French so I could visit one of my best friends. She currently lives in a country where French is the unofficial national language. This is my WHY.
4. Choose Thoughtfully
Once you’ve sorted out your what and why, it’s time to move on to the HOW. This is when you need to be both thoughtful and focused. Thoughtful in the sense that you need to consider all possible options and their implications, and focussed in the sense that you need to make firm decisions and stick to them.
When you have a clear understanding of WHAT you want to achieve and WHY it’s important to you, the next step is to figure out HOW you will make it happen. This is the moment to be thoughtful in your approach, taking time to consider all options while also being decisive and firm in your decisions to ensure progress.
For my example, creating a free account on Duolingo was my HOW. It had built-in accountability, but it didn’t feel like a huge stretch. Surprisingly, the gamification has worked wonders in helping me stay focused and stick with it. 😊
5. Embrace Your Strengths
Embracing my strength of talking helped my creativity 😊
After choosing thoughtfully, we can look to embrace our strengths. So often, especially when stretching ourselves by trying something new, we focus on what we lack. This is natural and normal!
But we can experience greater ease, growth and enjoyment when we recognise and lean into what we already do well. In the context of starting something new, this could mean finding the commonality between the new task and one you’ve already mastered.
I’d like to share a different example here: starting to explore creative writing. I already knew my VIA strengths and the skills which underpin each. I’d been writing articles and sharing stories I’d ‘written’ in my head as bedtime stories for my children for years. My kids and anyone who listened in (husband, parents, parents-in-law) asked why I’d not written them down. The bedtime stories were creative, flights of fancy, but as soon as I sat at a computer to start writing, I’d freeze. It felt too hard and too far out of my comfort zone.
When I finally decided it was time to lean into creative writing, I reconnected with my strengths. Talking the story out (using the dictate function on my phone) played to my strengths, was a small step and made it easier.
6. Be Prepared
By this, I mean to be mentally and emotionally prepared when things don’t go right. Trying new things is not smooth sailing. It can be super fun but also challenging. Things can go wrong or not quite as you had hoped. Mental preparation can help ease the discomfort and upset when you try something that doesn’t quite go to plan. Rest assured, this is normal!
When we try things, a significant proportion will not quite work. Maybe it’s the wrong time of day, the wrong activity, an equipment error, or some other reason. In my experience, the key is to learn from what went wrong and (as best as possible) take it in your stride. Not everything will be for you, and that is okay.
This happened to me just last week. I had prepared myself to do something I was very nervous about, but I’d booked it and was there, ready. After 45 minutes of paperwork, pre-checks and everything else, we got to the machine, and… nothing. It didn’t work.
I felt disappointed and a little frustrated. After taking a minute or two to realise this activity would not go ahead, I accepted that these things happen. Will I go back and try again another day? Maybe. But given how relieved I felt afterwards, I suspect that activity may not be for me after all. And that’s also okay.
7. Be Patient With Yourself
Avoiding the Friend Zone - my first novel
No More Simon Says - My second novel
When you do find something new that ticks the right boxes for you (it’s fun, you enjoy it, and it reminds you how good it can be to do new things), it can be easy to want to rush forward. If a little is good, more must be better, right?
Not necessarily. Remember, the journey to the future you’ve visualised is not like writing a quick email; it’s more like writing a novel! (And yes, I know this first hand, having written two novels).
Transitioning from being a beginner to no longer being a beginner takes time and effort. It can be great fun but also involves persistence and hard work. Recognising this, being patient with yourself and celebrating your progress along the way makes the effort more fun.
Pausing to celebrate each step of progress might sound like overkill, but it’s hard to do new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone, especially as an adult. So, this is your permission slip - be patient AND celebrate every step.
8. Seek Inspiration
Reading about the experiences of others who have tried new things can be supportive
When you want things to move faster or find your energy waning (because, as mentioned above - new things can be tricky), it’s good to seek inspiration. Motivation is great, but it waxes and wanes just like the moon.
So, to stay motivated, surround yourself with inspiration. Read about people like you who were or are trying new things or challenging themselves to learn a new skill. Learn from those at a similar point and those who are ahead.
The idea that “we are influenced by the ten people we surround ourselves with” (often attributed to motivational speaker Jim Rohn) highlights how those we spend the most time with shape our behaviours, attitudes, and identities. This concept, often summarised as “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” reflects the importance of surrounding ourselves with positive role models, especially when learning a new skill or starting a new career.
Engaging with various resources such as books, articles, and podcasts can provide valuable insights, motivation, and a supportive environment for growth and success. These materials remind you of the joy of starting something new and learning about it and help keep you focused on your bigger WHY goal.
9. Obtain Support
Family, Friends, Colleagues or a coach can provide support and accountability
Sometimes, we start a new activity because it’s a goal or part of a bigger project we have been planning (hello bucket list benefits or complete career change or redirection). This is a great reason!
However, while some activities, including starting something new, can be achieved without support, most big-picture, life-changing actions and goals require prolonged effort, and support becomes invaluable.
It's important to remember that you're not alone in your journey. Engage the support of a colleague, friend, or family member, or join a group or class where accountability is built in. As a bonus, you may learn faster with a cohort than you can on your own!
Alternatively, if you want customised, tailored support or your availability or personality doesn’t suit a group environment, working one-on-one with a coach (that’s me!) can provide support and accountability.
Ultimately, stepping out of our comfort zones and starting something new is filled with ups and downs, yet each step forward brings us closer to our desired outcomes - whether that’s a check on a list, a fulfilling career or an amazing experience we’ll remember.
So, as you contemplate starting something new, embrace the challenges and celebrate each small victory. Let’s move confidently towards our goals, fostering growth and resilience. And, perhaps along the way, we’ll have some fun too!
Implementing these tips will help you start something new. But what if you want more? I’ve got you.
Design Your Season
Design Your Season is my DIY solution when you want support for trying new things, or changing things up.
It’s a self-guided workshop and workbook which helps you plan and create a memorable, productive, and fulfilling season or quarter. Answering the included prompting questions will give you clarity, helping you move into action. And because it's a digital product, you can use it repeatedly.
Purchase Design Your Season here
Confidence Coaching
Alternatively, if you’ve connected with the tips in this article and want tailored, personalised support as you start something new or as you tackle a career challenge, let’s work together! We can uncover your strengths and turn them into strategies that propel you forward. Indeed, one of the benefits of working with me is having someone hold you accountable for doing the things you deeply desire to do.
Book your complimentary consultation today to learn more.
