Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to take a step outside your comfort zone and usual routines. Deciding to learn a new skill or hobby is empowering and refreshes your perspective on life. And depending on what you learn, you could gather valuable expertise in something that can eventually lead to a new career or income stream. Here are some ideas of new skills or hobbies you could get to grips with.

There are many reasons why it is good to learn something new. Many people stop the habit of learning once they leave the formal education system. When you have to motivate yourself to do it, learning can feel like a more difficult thing to take on. But if you find something that sparks your interest, it won’t be that difficult. Continuous learning throughout your life is great for keeping your brain active, building confidence and lowering stress.

Learning also opens new doors, giving you the power to pursue new directions in your life if you want to. When you learn something new, you’ll often feel part of a community too – which could be in-person or virtually – which can help you feel part of something bigger than yourself. This is great for mental health and self-esteem.

Make the decision to do something for yourself and learn something new! Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Grow a Garden

If you want a new hobby particularly for the mental health benefits, growing food and flowers in your garden is a brilliant option. Spending time outdoors is a good way to get a mental health boost, and gardening gives you a little gentle exercise too. There’s plenty to learn when it comes to growing food or flowers, including what is seasonal and what conditions you need for different varieties to thrive. If you decide to grow some fruit and vegetables, you’ll feel a great sense of achievement when you can finally pick your crops. And then you can extend this into a new hobby – learning different recipes in the kitchen!

Even if you don’t have access to a yard, you can still create a window-sill herb garden, or grow things in pots and planters on a balcony space.

2. Learn About Investing

For those who would like to learn something new in order to explore finding a new income stream, learning about investing is a good place to start. Investing is all about finding somewhere to place your money, with the idea that the money will grow and you will make some future profit or income. Learning about investing involves knowing about different ways to invest, and working out how to anticipate the likely returns on the investment. Higher risk investments can bring higher returns if they work out, while lower risk investments will bring lower profits overall, but potentially a steadier income.

Many people decide to learn real estate investing, because investing in property is something that is more relatable to many people than stocks, for example. If you can get to grips with the property market in an area and understand the costs involved in property upkeep, fees and taxes, investing in real estate can bring solid returns.

3. Learn a Craft

People who want to find a way to express their creativity should consider learning something new in the field of arts and crafts. Many people don’t prioritize creative endeavors when they get so busy with the practical side of life. Yet creativity is great for lowering stress and stretching your brain – and if you get good at something – you may eventually be able to sell your work too.

Choose an art of craft that appeals to you. Perhaps you have always wanted to paint, learn how to knit or design greeting cards. The opportunities are endless, so don’t hold back when you’re thinking of your perfect craft. There are many ways to learn too. You could teach yourself while picking up ad hoc tips from websites and how-to videos online. Or you could enroll in a class, which is also a good social opportunity to meet like-minded people. Perhaps even apply to a writing contest to see how far your new hobby can take you. The possibilities are endless if you can keep an open mind.

4. Learn a Sport

Many of us feel that we’re not physically active enough, so if you want to improve on this while developing a new skill, finding a new sport to learn is the perfect solution. You could pick something back up that you haven’t done since high school, or you could choose something completely new. From basketball to tennis, or ice hockey to yoga, different sports will bring you different benefits. Some sports – especially team sports – will bring more social aspects with them, while individual sports might be more about personal development for you.

Also remember that it is never too late to learn and there is always an opportunity to learn that caters to your current level of skill.